Forecasters digging pits in this area on 2.2.21 found buried surface hoar 10-15 cm down but the deeper layer that was reactive in pits 20-50 cm down was a layer of decomposing precip particles and small facets that could be mistaken for buried surface hoar. - AJB
Avalanche: Summit
Location: Fresno
Standard route up Fresno to the ridge. It was a clear and calm day. Got to rock the sunnies suffering a mild sun burn. Had an awesome crew to share the stoke of avalanche knowledge with.
Forecaster Comments
| Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | No |
| Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | East |
| Elevation | 2100ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | 3in | Width | 10ft |
| Vertical Run | unknown |
Avalanche Details
Small soft slab released as skier was coming down the Fresno main face. It was relatively small and did not run very far.
Weather
Skies were clear all day
Temps in the negatives in the am
Winds we calm for most the day. No visible snow transport
Snow surface
Widespread surface hoar from the road to 2200' becoming larger on the way up (~4mm). Just below the surface snow was dry
Snowpack
Our class dug several pits on @ 2200-2400' E/SE aspects on 14-23 degree slopes. Here are correlations of our results:
Structure: Right side up snow until we hit the 2 crust layers ~40-50cms from ground where we had 4F results above and within the crust combo. Then subtle upside down snow hardness to the ground. Basal facet layer was thinner and moist.
Strength: Shovel Shear and CT results had some failures on a buried surface hoar layer down 15-40cm. CT results we as follows: CTV, CTX, CT25 50cm down, CT12 Q1 down 30cm.
Propagation Propensity: ECT results were ECTN26 40cm down, ECTP23 40cm down, ECTP20-27 40cm down and several ECTX's
Overall the results suggested a BSH in the upper snowpack. We did not get any shearing around or in the crust combo.