Grand Mesa

Snowpack

Rob Hunker · Feb 20, 2012 · Grand Mesa

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Weather

1230hrs; Partly cloudy; 19 degrees; 86% RH; wind calm;

Snowpack

HS 70"; 18" new at study plot; no new natural avalanches observed. On the test slope, no cracking or settlement; was not able to trigger any failures; visible wind transport from the northwest although the weather station recorded wind transport from the SW @ 28mph overnight. In the test pit, easy, clean shear failures while cutting out the back of the isolated column. Failure of storm slab at interface with upper midpack and also failure at lower midpack depth hoar interface. Easy results in the pit but no failure results on the slope?