Winds began to pick up around 1300 (1pm). Could see transport off most high peaks.
Standard skin track up the east facing shoulder to a high point of 2700′. Looking for the distribution and reactivity of the 1/21 Buried Surface Hoar (MLK Jr BSH) layer within the snowpack. Also looking for previous buried surface hoar layers, and the changing surface conditions with the increased winds.
Winds began to pick up around 1300 (1pm). Could see transport off most high peaks.
Low 20s F
Light to Moderate Winds - Gusting to 25mph
Few Clouds - moving in around 1pm
No Precip
Road to ~1150' - A thin eggshell moisture crust decreasing to 1"of soft snow on top of a supported surface.
~1150'- Loss of the supportable surface crust.
~1300' - 2" of soft snow on top of a thin crust sandwich with 1mm facets in between two crusts.
~1500' - Loss of crust sandwich, 8" of soft snow on top of a 6" crust interface.
The MLK Jr Day (1/21) BSH layer was found in test pits dug between 2300' and 2700'. In both of these pits we found a mixture of BSH as well as faceting occurring near these layers. All pit locations presented propagation propensity on or involved with the MLK Jr Day BSH.
Twin Peak Test Pit 1- 2250' - HS: 140cm - E Aspect - 28*
CT19 / CT26 failed 40cm down on MLK layers (MF crust /BSH/.5mm facets/MF)
ECTP13 /ECTP23 failed 40cm down on MLK layers (MF crust /BSH/.5mm facets/MF)
Twin Peak Test Pit 2 - 2300' - HS: 130 - E Aspect - 31*
STE failed 25cm down on MF/BSH - large obvious upright BSH (5-7mm) within facets (.5mm)
CT6 failed 25cm down on MF/BSH
ECTP9 / ECTN12 failed 25cm down on MF/BSH
Twin Peak Test Pit 3 - 2700' - HS:160 - E Aspect
Tests failing directly below the BSH (3-4mm) under thin crust within facet layer (.5mm)
CT17 failed 25cm down on thin crust/facet layer
ECTP25 / ECTN17 failed 25cm down on thin crust/facet layer
Twin Peaks (Twin Tips) - From road
Twin Peaks coverage - wind scouring showing MF crusts at points
1300' - Thin crust facet sandwich below surface
1300' - 1mm in thin crust facet sandwich
Twin Peak E Aspect - 2250' - Pit Wall
Twin Peaks E Aspect - 2250' - Planar break in ECT in MF crust /BSH/.5mm facets/MF
Twin Peaks E Aspect - 2700' - Planar break in ECT on very thin crust/facet interface below BSH
Twin Peaks E Aspect - 2700' - obvious very thin crust/facet interface breaking below BSH
Twin Peaks E Aspect - 2700' - very thin crust/facet (.5mm) layer below BSH on 2mm grid
Wind transport looking down Silvertip Creek drainage