Observation Treeline Test Profile
Quick reportParks Canada Visitor Safety · Mar 30, 2025 · Glacier
Snowpack
- Depth
- 143
- Obs Type
- point
- Site Aspect
- SW
- Test Fracture
- sudden
- Site Elevation
- 2380
- Ski Penetration
- 15
- Test Initiation
- moderate
- Foot Penetration
- 20
- Test Failure Depth
- 75
- Site Elevation Band
- tln
- Surface Conditions
- crust, newSnow
- Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
- facets
Dug at the last Christmas trees on west facing treeline knob of Observation peak- normally a very wind-scoured shallow spot. Sun was out for the first time in days: 10-15cm of new snow quickly became moist over the crusts formed following peak heat /rain on March 27th with the recent storms. Foot and ski pen is shallow above these crusts. Our tests all cut through the crusts. Somewhere around the treeline / alpine interface these crusts will become too weak have any bearing on snowpack strength.