Detailed Observation
Date | 2020-12-19 |
Location | Valdez |
Observer | Gareth Brown |
Avalanche | N |
General Observations
12/19- Cracked Ice up to 3000’/NW-N aspects/ 6° F at the car rising to 14° F at the end of tour/ overcast with snow becoming moderate later in the day/ Calm .
Collapsing: No
Shooting cracks: No
Avalanches: No
Found 8-10 inches of low density new snow from the last 48 hours. Hand shear tests on the way up produced moderate to hard results down 70 cms, breaking at the 12/1 rain crust. 12/1 rain crust was breaking down and showed signs of rounding. Snowpack was right side up above 12/1 crust. Dug a pit a 2500’/ NW aspect/ 30° slope/HS 155cms. Pit results produced ECTN5/Q3 down 20 cms with no other results. Couldn’t identify buried surface hoar at this location. Skied and traveled on slopes up to 35° with no signs of instability.