Gunnison

Snowpack

Snodgrass: Observation @1400 hours. Mild westerly winds, sunny, warm, no blowinng snow. Conducted full profile pit on 30* E NE slope. HS=105cm. Ski pen =20cm. 5cm of surface facets (grain size 1-2mm) 20cm layer of 1F resistance (grain size .5 mm) 25cm layer of P resistance (grain size 1mm) 23cm layer of P+ resistance resting on a very hard interface possibly early January wind event (grain size 1.5mm) 32cm (to the ground) depth hoar of F resistance (grain size 3mm) No cracking or whomping observed, but area was heavily trafficked. Repeatable CTM (SC) results, failure 83cm down. ECTP 28 (SC) failed on same layer 83cm down showing potential for propagation deep in the snowpack. The column that failed during the ECT was large, heavy and came off in one distinct piece and was nearly as tall as an extended shovel. The upper layers of the snow pack seem to have bonded well, however has created a large heavy slab resting on depth hoar. The surface facets were fairly large in size and could prove to be a weak layer with new snow atop.