Black Tusk SW aspect

Snowpack

Devin Jones · Nov 22, 2016 · Garibaldi

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Quick report

Weather
cloudy, foggy, warm
Ride Type
openTrees, mellowSlopes, alpineSlopes
Stayed Away
convexSlopes, steepSlopes
Riding Quality
ok
Snow Conditions
heavy

Weather

Avg Temp
-5
Wind Speed
windSpeedLight
Sky Condition
brokenClouds
Snowfall Rate
1
Wind Direction
SE
Storm Start Date
2016-11-18T20:00:00.000Z
Storm Snow Amount
35
Precipitation Type
snow

Seemed the S aspect was unaffected by wind at lower altitudes, may have been affected by past sun or warming. At higher altitudes S facing aspects were wind scoured by SE winds.

Snowpack

Depth
70
Obs Type
point
Site Aspect
SW
Test Fracture
sudden
Site Elevation
1750
Ski Penetration
20
Test Initiation
moderate
Foot Penetration
35
Test Failure Depth
35
Site Elevation Band
tln
Surface Conditions
newSnow

On column test the column failed at the level of the crust on the 4th moderate tap. A column shear test produced an easy planar fracture at this level. Noticed pinwheeling while skinning. Overall had the impression that release wasn't easy, but that should it happen it'd be a slab slide (likely 35cm thick of heavy cohesive snow) that could propogate widely across the crust layer.