Got a whumph descending the ridge from little Ellis on the ENE facing slope just below the ridge around 7000'.
Saw some small cornices but snow was soft below the ridge. Hopped on the flat ridge top adjacent to a wind lip and got no result.
On Mt. Blackmore we dug a pit on the east face near the ridgeline. We measured 10-12" of new snow that fell over the last week, equalling 0.7" of snow water equivalent. In the trees and less wind affected areas there were 14-16" recent snow, but we did not measure SWE there. In our snowpit on an east-facing slope at 9700' we found this new snow sitting on 2' of faceted snow, showing us that the structure is there to create avalanches. While stability tests were not remarkable with scores of ECTX and ECTP29, we did not feel like stepping into avalanche terrain was an appropriate decision for two reasons. First, we know the snowpack setup is capable of creating large avalanches and new snow will increase the likelihood of this. Second, recent wind has drifted the new snow into thicker denser slabs that will add additional weight to already unstable slopes. We saw clear signs of wind loading with fresh cornices forming at ridgelines and pillows of wind-drifted snow forming at the top of rollovers. While skiing out my partner and I both noted that the snow felt unsupportable with our skis breaking through to the facets below. We also discussed that as more snow and wind come this week dangerous avalanche conditions will continue to exist.
Went for a little jaunt up History Rock this afternoon. Had two small localized whumfs near the top of the E facing meadow. Up to 20cm storm snow over a (mostly) supportive crust over facets. In the N facing meadow this crust was thin (<1cm) and breakable.
Dug a very quick pit on a SE slope at 9600ft HS 90 cm. Boot pen to the ground. SKY OVC. Wind L.
Visibility was minimal, but I observed no signs of significant, recent wind loading. With that said there is a ~5-8 cm (small) 1F wind slab under ~5cm of + at the top of the snowpack and above the Jan. crust.
ECTN26 below the Jan. crust
PST 30/100 End on 2-3mm facets down ~50cm (below the jan crust)
Where the crust exist, it may be ever so slightly harder to impact these deeper, weaker layers, but I would certainly not place any faith in it especially with spacial variability and change in aspect/elevation.
After doing the ECT and not observing any propagation. I pulled the block off with my shovel and it broke deeper (Q1/2) on the same facets I performed the PST on.
I dug in this same meadow earlier in the winter. Basal facets/ depth hoar have advanced significantly. I didn't put them on a card,but striations were visible to the naked eye.
This snowpack has a lot going on in it, but strength is certainly not one of them. Out of the entire snowpack maybe only 10-15cm of snow had hand hardness greater than 4F+.
While ski-cutting a slope skiers saw cracking on the slope. This slope did not avalanche.
Skied a northeast face that was around 35-40 degrees at around 9000 ft. Entire slope fractured on second ski cut but did not slide. A dusting of new snow, with a good bit of powder on the ground.
Main points of test profile to ground at N45°31.5026' W110°57.3867'
On the terrain travelled, NE - SE slopes have ~70-80cm coverage. W slopes have very thin cover and presented minimal avalanche risk.
Went up Lick Creek today with the intention of getting out in the new snow and doing some digging. We dug a couple pits on a north aspect at the top of the meadow at 8064' in an area of wind drifted snow. We observed propagation in both pits up 25cm on a faceted layer. HS 64cm, ECTP21, CT17 Q2. Skiing on the SE aspect was very thin but decent on a firm supportable crust formed during last week's warmer temps.
