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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 14, 2022
Submitted:
November 17, 2022
Observer:
WCMAC - Jeff Carty
Zone or Region:
Other
Location:
Lolo Pass , Mt. Fuji

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Bottom Line

Today we took a short tour up to Mt Fuji to check out the early season conditions. We avoided avalanche terrain. Snow depths in the area range from 2 to 2.5 feet. Many early season hazards exist.

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Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Temperature:
20
Wind:
Light , NW

Minor rime event around 9 in the morning that broke up around noon to partly cloudy skies. Winds were light, and there was no snow transport observed.

Snowpack Observations

We dug one pit on a north-northwest aspect at 6,040 ft near the top of Mt Fuji. There was a snow depth of 77 cm (30"), and the snowpack was actively faceting at all depths. The primary layer of concern going forward is a thin layer of facets underneath a crust 58cm (23") down. This layer fully propagated in an ECT after 22 taps (ECTP22). See attached pit profile for more details. Surface conditions were surface hoar above 6cm (2.5") of near surface facets. The surface hoar was widespread from the Lolo Pass visitor center all the way to the top of Mt Fuji.

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