CAIC Observation Report

Snowpack

Brian McCall ยท Dec 3, 2010

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Weather

Mild temps. Moderate SW wind observed near and above treeline with light to moderate snow transport. Overcast skies with some mid level clouds.

Snowpack

Had to alter original tour plan due to very shallow snowpack on W-SW aspects below treeline. Trailhead at around 9000 ft had only around 10cm snowpack on west facing terrain. Looking around this area of the Elks, terrain above 12,500 or so has been heavily wind effected in the past two weeks. Distribution of slabs seems somewhat random with odd loading patterns due to strong winds from variable directions. Bare ground often next to loaded pillows in start zones. Dug one profile, north aspect of Sheep Mtn, below treeline at around 10,000 ft. Surface hoar layer buried around the 24th or 25th of November was the most significant weak layer. It was buried down 30 cm in this profile and failed with moderate Q1 results in CT's and ECT's (ECTP 12). Mid pack consisted of rounded snow from the late October storm up to 1F hardness, lower snowpack was 2mm facets. Got a good look at the southerly aspects of Arkansas Mtn from across the valley. At and below treeline slopes facing south still have a very shallow and patchy snowpack.HS probably averaged under 25 cm for areas that did have snow.