Friend of the Devil

Traveled to the eastern edge of the forcast area today.  With significant overnight snowfall, elevated avalanche hazard, and uncertainties surrounding the persistent slab/surface hoar distribution, we went into our day with a strong assessment mindset. Hoping to gather information on a day where the snowpack is talkative and offers feedback. We focused our efforts on skiing west facing slopes, in hopes of avoiding terrain with fresh wind slab development.
 

• Numerous collapsing observed along our up route BTL.

• Quick Pits revealed alarming structure on NE facing BTL:
  • @4800'- 18" Soft Slab (4F) interfaced with 1.5" of facets (F), on top of a crust (P-K)
  • @5200'- 36" Soft Slab (1F-), 1.5" facets (F), and crust (P).
  • Preserved surface hoar was not seen at quick pit sites,

• We stopped to dig a pit @ 5600' on West Facing (Pit Graph attached)
  • HS 275cm
  • Crust layer decomposing and grainy (rough textured interface)
  • Facets above and below crust still present and concerning.
  • Overlying soft slab is 21 inches thick.
  • Test results:
    • ECTN21 5" below surface (overnight snow interface)
    • ECTX
    • CT14 Q2 @ overnight now interface
    • CT17 Q2 23 inches below surface (facets on underside of crust)

• Stopped to dig another pit @ 7100' on West Facing (Pit Graph Attached)
  • HS 174cm
  • Notable eggshell rime crust 5" below the surface
  • 13" Soft Slab on top of a thin (0.5cm) Melt Freeze crust
  • Facets not observed capping the crust
  • Dec 3 DPS layer composed the bottom 12" of the snowpack. Some striations visable on large facets (2-3mm) underlying a knife hard crust within this old snow.
  • Test Results:
    • ECTN23 @ 13" below surface (new snow/old snow interface)
    • ECTN26 @ 13" below surface
    • CT23 Q2 @ 13" below surface
    • CT17 Q2 @ 5" below surface (rime crust)
    • PST END 95/100 @" 13 below surface

• Light/moderate west winds on and off throughout the day, some strong gusts observed above 6800'
• OVC/BKN skies and light precip (S1) most of the afternoon.
• Good visability of surrounded peaks with an abundance of avalanche terrain to inspect, yet no recent avalanches observed.
• We skiied planar west facing slopes up to 35 degrees without sign of instability. Snow surface mostly comprised of a stiffening soft slab being pressed by significant and constant windward action.
• wind effect evident at mid-upper elevations
• Late in the afternoon (4pm), we discovered moist snow below about 5000' while descending into JFS Canyon