Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 02/19/2020
Name: Zach Bauer
Subject: Unemployment Column test
Aspect: North
Elevation: 10000
Avalanches: none on the sheltered chutes.
Weather: High level clouds and a calm day, not too warm.
Snowpack: Dug a pit at 10000′ on the north aspect of the Unemployment Chutes. The pit was 3′ deep, the recent storm snow failed during a column test at 2 hits from the elbow. The base of the column disintegrated at 3 hits from the shoulder. The basal layer is extremely faceted and empty faceted snow. The snowpack is currently 1/2 faceted sugar in the bottom half, and the rest is a firmer layer of two week and week old snow. Distinct failures at both the storm and old snow interface, as well as the faceted vs unfaceted snow down lower. The conditions in the sheltered glades gave the green flag for a good decent back to town.