Observation: Summit

Location: Fresno Ridge

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

 

 

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Skinned up ESE aspect to 3000′

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

No obvious signs were observed
Active loading in the afternoon as winds began to build from the N

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Clear becoming overcast by afternoon
Winds were light in the am building to moderate by afternoon from the N, NE
Mid 20's F
No precip

Snow surface

*Surface hoar found to 3000'. By 2pm surface hoar was getting blown around in wind exposed places above 2500'

Near surface faceting in the top 2-5" of low density snow at all elevations except where winds have scoured ridges

Snowpack

1100'- 2000' - several layers of thin melt freeze crusts in top 10" of snowpack. Didn't dig at this elevations, but could feel with ski poles and quick hand pit.

2000-2400' - thin wafer like crust under 5" of near surface facets

Pit at 2725' - see pit profile, found a reactive layer of intact surface hoar 12" below the surface- ECTP13 and ECTP14 SC- scores showed propagation potential on a smooth bed surface. ~ 10cm of basal facets were found on ground and were not as reactive as the buried surface hoar.

Pit at 2800' - wind exposed area, HS=65, SE aspect, 30* slope, found 15cm of F hard basal facets/rounding facets (1.5-3mm) on ground under 30cm Pencil hard slab. ECTXx2

Photos & Video
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