Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

Beautiful day to be out in the backcountry today with relatively cool temps in sheltered areas of the Sherwin Ridge.

• Snow Height Probed from 220-275cm
• Right side up snowpack with the top 100cm going from Fist to 1 finger with 1 finger at the bottom.  Wind texture and stiffening was present on the surface, but not thick.
• We did not see evidence of wind transport at ridgetop.
• Settlement cones were visible around small trees and tree wells.
• Layer ID found a thin, weaker layer of snow down 5cm in the snowpack.  Tilt test confirmed the weakness with relatively stiffer F+ slab on top.  Compression Test Easy with sudden planar results.  Failure layer was small Surface Hoar crystals mixed with preserved Decomposing and Fragmented Grains.  Not concerning now, but could become a problem with new load.
• Solar warming did not appear to be a factor on southerly aspects below the Bluffs.  At least not enough to create avalanches or roller balls when the snowmobiles were high marking the terrain in the afternoon.