Public Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

I dug an ECT about 200 ft below ridgeline in the snake on an east facing alpine slope at 7600 ft that never sees any tracks. Total depth was 220 cm. There was a light crust at 30 cm depth, likely from wind drifted drips from trees on a nearby ridge during the atmosphere river. Above the crust was 20 cm of stiff new snow and 10 cm of light snow at the surface. Pit was 90 cm deep. Results were ECTx, nothing moved even when I pried the column out when done and gave it a rattle.
While traveling there were sporadic wind slabs, up to 15 cm deep, mostly at ridgeline, but I had a windslab about 10 cm deep release midslope about 25 ft wide. So much for not mixing metric with imperial units.
Wind was moving snow at ridgeline with the highest winds on the peaks proper.