General Observations

Woke up to 12″ of new snow overnight over 3″ from the day before total 15″ or 40cm. Strong winds in the morning were swirly, from north and then prevailing south. Observed visible snow wind transport and that created white out and hazardous conditions at times driving to the trailhead.

Changed our initial plan about going into the mountains and made assessments closer to town ~200′. Immediate we saw shooting cracks, whumphing, and pulled out fresh storm slabs on steep test slopes with the kick-turn test.  New snow over the weak old snow was highly visible once we dug a pit.

During the day temperatures increased with clouds, clearing, and intermittent snowfall. Ran into spatial variability digging on several aspects: SE-aspect on 10 degree slope over vegetation HS 50cm failure on 2-3mm basal facets that were rounding under a 1cm pencil hard melt-freeze crust (see attached pit profile).

• Compression test: CT13 SC down 40cm (sudden collapse)
• Extended column test: ECTP14 down 40cm (propagating)
• Propagation saw test: PST15/120 end down 40cm (failed to end)

On a shallower, SE-aspect, 35+ degree slope with rocks and dirt at the ground. Basal facet layer and crust were less evident with no propagating results. On a W-aspect HS 70cm with 40cm of new snow over hard melt-freeze crust CT14 RP (resistant planner) and ECTN12 (no propagating) down 20cm.

N-aspect was a different story, HS 90cm with 40cm of new snow over a 1cm melt-freeze curst and weak old snow facets underneath. There was a hard melt-freeze crust below that to the ground.  CT14 SC and ECTP15 down 40cm. The propagating test result failed below the crust on old snow facets.

With all the observations and pit results, the W-aspect had the most contiguous snowpack. Fresh wind slab however was building at the surface and increasing temperatures made the fresh storm snow more cohesive. All in a all, a complex picture with very observable red flag weather conditions.

*We noticed far in the distance up valley on the flanks below Ripinsky two natural D2 avalanche pockets on S-aspect 1800′ – 1500′.