Observation: Salt Lake

Wind Drifted Snow

Lots of surface snow transport, consistent moderate to strong winds, but not quite enough to blow it into thin air. Active loading on lee aspects (N mostly) near TL and above TL in the area with medium to large wind pillows all over, including below TL, from current and previous wind events. No wind layer was reactive on the (previously) cross loaded south east facing test slopes I jumped around on though. I only stepped on one small dish on a NE slope with active loading and it stayed put, but it was also extremely shallow in the exact spot.

Persistent Weak Layer

Weak pit profile full of decomposition and CTH results at 28cm and 22cm, with sudden planar and sudden collapse fractures respectively, indicate continuous, defined weak layers. I also got a ECTX on one ECT, I did not repeat for consistency. The poor snowpack structure found in the pit felt fairly contiguous across southerly slopes in my area via hand pits and pole probing. While I observed good stability both on my skis and in the snow pit, it seems to be a pertinent problem to watch as it warms, and (hopefully!) snows soon.