Snodgrass study plot 1/4

Date of Observation: 01/04/2021
Name: Jack Caprio
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 10,000

Snowpack:

As of 1/4/21, the HS at the study plot (NE, 10,000) is 71 cm. 13 cm of F to 4F snow sits at the top of the snowpack. This layer represents the newer storm snow that fell over the past 10 days which buried the 12/26 interface @ 58 cm.

Below the 12/26 interface lies 10 more cm of 4F- snow leading to a buried NSF layer at 48 cm (12/22 interface). This interface initiated failure during an ECT test but did not propagate.

13 cm below the 12/22 interface is our old friend the 12/10 interface. This layer, which is 35 cm thick, has evolved into depth hoar near the ground. ECT tests resulted in propagating results (ECTP22 @ 12/10 interface). This same interface, when tested almost 2 weeks prior on 12/23/20 (snowpit attached in images), produced propagating results much more easily (ECTP7). According to the results over time, the 12/10 interface would appear to be becoming more stubborn. But with the 12/22, and 12/26 interfaces sitting above of the 12/10 interface, we are continuing to see plenty of avalanche activity on steep, sheltered NE facing terrain.