Some Snow Pit Results near Blackmore

Today I got reassuring results from a snow pit dug at 9195' on a Northeast aspect (40 degrees) in the basin between Mt. Blackmore and Elephant Peak. The area was clearly wind-loaded with an HS of 110cm. I got a CT20, Q2 @ 50cm (see image), a resistant planar failure that appeared to occur on a thin layer of decomposing fragments. In my ECT, I received no results whatsoever, so I sense that this weak layer is quite unlikely to react, though structurally the snow consisted of a hard wind slab on top of an identifiable weak layer.

I also performed an analysis and multiple ECTs on a snow wall closer to Elephant Mountain (8950'), which was a Northwestern aspect (318 degrees). The snow wasn't as deep at this location (HS 73cm), and my results were ECTN22 @ 42cm, then ECTN21 @ 44cm (see images).

I hope these results are helpful as we begin to wrap our heads around this early season snowpack.

Thanks,

Charlie