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January 28, 2016

Snow surface obs

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/28/2016
Name: Zach Guy and Evan Ross

Subject: Snow surface obs
Aspect: North, North East, South East, South
Elevation: Above treeline

Avalanches: Lots of rollerballs and a few small wet loose from yesterday on steep SE, S, SW aspects N/ATL. A few more rollerballs today. Spotted two more old crowns from 1/20 – 1/21 cycle on SE aspects above treeline.
Weather: Clear, calm winds, warm temperatures
Snowpack: See photo captions. Surfaces have very small near surface facets on both north and south aspects. Large surface hoar below treeline in places. No signs of instability other than rollerballs.

Old crown likely from 1/20-1/21 cycle. SE aspect of Afley Peak. This one ran during Christmas cycle as well.

Large surface hoar in wind-sheltered, low elevation, shaded slopes.

Northerly aspects ATL hold a mix of Fist hard, soft rippled DF's and 4F hard wind crusts. All have a very thin layer (2-3mm) of .5mm near surface facets above. — Northerly aspects ATL hold a mix of Fist hard, soft rippled DF’s and 4F hard wind crusts. All have a very thin layer (<2mm thick) of .5mm near surface facets above.

Rollerballs on southerly aspects

Steep S/SE aspects ATL have a new crust, 2-4cm thick, with small grained (.5-1mm) radiation re-crystallization facets above. The facet layer was 1cm thick this morning above the crust, but it looked to have cooked upwards through the day leaving about 1-2mm of facets on the surface by sunset. Below the crust is moist to dry DF's down the the Jan 24th crust, which was about 5 cm thick and 25-30 cm deep. — Steep S/SE aspects ATL have a new crust, 2-4cm thick, with small grained (.5-1mm) radiation re-crystallization facets above. The facet layer was 1cm thick this morning above the crust, but it looked to have cooked upwards through the day leaving a 1-2 mm thick layer of facets on the surface by sunset. Below the crust is moist to dry DF’s down the the Jan 24th crust, which was about 5 cm thick and 25-30 cm deep.

Old crown likely from 1/20-1/21 cycle. SE aspect of Afley Peak. This one ran during Christmas cycle as well. — Old crown likely from 1/20-1/21 cycle. SE aspect of Oh-Be-Joyful Peak.

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