Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

We dug a pit on a SW aspect to see how mid-elevations look. We encountered multiple faceted weak layers and had a fully propagated ECTP 28 that failed 58 cm below the snow surface. When we tried to pull the slab off the basal facets easily failed as well. This result will keep me off mid-elevation SW slopes above 30 degrees. We did now encounter any collapsing or other red flags and all the faceted layers seem to be on a healing trend with no major sharp gradients in snow temperature (see snowpit). So hopefully, the snowpack strength will improve. The snow at this elevation is shallower than areas recently evaluated and thus is not as resilient to loading. Forecaster note: Poor snowpack structure with weak, faceted snow exists, but failure does not appear to be full propagation. A score of ECTN 28 seems more appropriate. Propagation in a stability test indicates a slabs propensity to avalanche. Without propagation, an avalanche is not likely.