Date of Observation: 11/09/2015
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North East, East, South East
Elevation: 10,000 – 11,500 ft
Weather: Few clouds, calm wind.
Snowpack: Continuous snow coverage now on all aspects/elevations except for some below treeline southerly slopes. Snow surface was re-freezing crusts on every slope SE, S, and SW. Widespread surface hoar layer at all elevations on shady aspects, ranging from 2-3mm at lower elevations to 1mm at higher elevations. Some minor faceting below the surface hoar as well. Last week’s snow is now denser and supportive, ranging from 20cm or less at 10,000 feet and up to 60 cm at 11,500 ft. Encountered old facet layer below last week’s snow around 11,000 feet and higher on northerly aspects. Snow profile here showed 45 cm of slab over 10 cm of 1mm facets. Propagating results in stability tests and got a moderate collapse about 10 feet from my pit as I was leaving. See attached profile. Slabs become more variable in depth and density at higher elevations due to wind effects. Observed some minor cracking above 11,000 feet as well.
