Observation Date: 12/20/2019

Route/Location:
Circumnavigation of Point 6 and skied back down into Snow Bowl

Weather:
Mostly cloudy with moderate to strong winds out of the SW.

Wind:
SW winds with snow being transported, mostly near ridge tops.

New Snow: 0-3″

Avalanche Activity:
None noted and we didn’t ski anything above 30 degrees because of avalanche concerns and thin coverage. We also noted one small collapse, which is a red flag for instability.

Other Comments:
Dug a pit at 7800ft on a S facing aspect in Jenny Bowl. Height of snow 110cm. ECTP22 failing on facets above the 11/17 ice crust and stepping down to the facets below the ice crust. The area we were in today has a thin snowpack, around 3 feet in depth, with terrible structure on all aspects. We found depth hoar, facets, and ice crusts wherever we dug or probed. These layers are near the ground, capped by stronger snow, creating a recipe for avalanches.

Observer: Todd Glew

Boot Penetration is waist deep, you sink to the ground!

Thin Coverage on Burgundy

Hardness Scale in Snow Pit