Date of Observation: 12/11/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North, North East, South West
Elevation: 9,200-11,400 ft
Avalanches: Small debris observed in Redwell Basin (D1), but otherwise, no vis of above treeline slopes. We had views of NE Schuylkill Ridge and SW Anthracite Mesa, and saw no avalanche activity.
Weather: Moderate SW ridgetop winds, with light snow transport. Pluming off of peaks. S-1 , brief periods of S2 (graupel). Mild temps, overcast skies.
Snowpack: 15 – 20 cm of new snow, mostly all cohesionless graupel, limited any storm slab concerns in wind protected areas. On NE aspects N/BTL, we broke trail and crossed a number of steep rollovers with minimal signs of instability: some minor cracking and one collapse. However, 3 out of 4 extended column tests produced moderate, propagating results, sudden collapse failures, on the Dec 6 near surface facet layer, which was below a 40 to 50 cm, 4F slab on wind sheltered slopes N/BTL. Same results on SW aspects near treeline, where the Dec 6 layer is a thin, friable crust above facets. See photos of profiles.
SW Aspect NTL
NÂ aspect BTL