Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/23/2019
Name: Zack Kinler & Eric Murrow
Subject: Kebler Pass area PM zip around
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West
Elevation: 9200′- 12000′
Avalanches: nothing recent to note. Found one unreported D2.5 on an east aspect of Oh-be-joyful Peak – east aspect above treeline. Likely failed around 12/14
Weather: Mild air temperatures and very light winds at ridgetop at 12k, like pleasant enough to not wear gloves on Scarps ridge. Clouds were on the increase and thickening to overcast by 4pm.
Snowpack: Went to take a look at snow surfaces around the area before the incoming storm. Significant Surface Hoar was present at the lowest elevations in inversion zones, but speaking with folks who toured in the Anthracites it was not present once out of the cold sinks at valley bottom. Shaded slopes in the town of CB had 1cm Surface Hoar. Melt/freeze crusts have developed on south aspects up to 12k, around 2.5cm thick. As you transition east or west these crusts taper off in thickness quickly.
Poked a quick hole into a drifted south-facing slope at 11900′. Here the snowpack was surprisingly dense and supportive. Largely a stack of crusts and slabs, with light faceting underneath and above the crusts. See photo. No test results to note but while hammering on an ECT after standard loading steps I was able to produce a propagating result below the 12/12 crust but my hand sure hurts.
Photos:
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- Photo of test profile
