Snowpits Lionhead Range

We sledded from Buttermilk to Ski Hill and dug a pit at 8000'. Snow depth was 80 cm, ECTN15 on E aspect–no NSFs or surface hoar at the pit.

While touring up Lionhead Ridge we triggered a whumpf with a noticeable crack on wind pillows at 8500’. At the whumpf snow depth was 83 cm on the NE aspect with ECTP11– failed on a layer of near surface facets.

As the terrain below the ridge (to the east) became steeper, we triggered a loud whumpf at 8600’. At the whumpf snow depth was 105 cm on NE aspect with 2x ECTP11. This was on a well-defined layer of 4mm surface hoar 35 cm from the surface. All ECTPs were on NE aspects with new snow and wind load atop the layer. This layer of near surface facets and surface hoar is our primary concern, and triggering a slide in steeper terrain with this weak layer seemed likely today.