Sawatch
SnowpackFisher Martin ยท Jan 9, 2021
Weather
At time of test and before (8:30 am - noon: clear, sunny, cold (3 degrees when leaving car at Mayflower parking), little to no wind After test (noon - 1 pm): increasing cloud cover, still no wind
Snowpack
East side of Mayflower Hill, Fremont Pass (11,650) - East Aspect 39.4325, -106.1492 Test done in open 10 degree (not quite flat but close) field below some 20-30 degree roll overs - general observations noted within 10 min (trail breaking) walk of this location unless otherwise noted Observations: - Whumpfs occurred wherever we broke new trail once just below treeline near 11,650. This prompted a slight change in our lapping plans and the test pit itself. Some of these whumpfs resulted in depression areas of about 0.5 cm deep ranging from 10 sq feet to 20 sq yards nearly always traveling upslope - Surface hoar was a constant from beginning of day to end of day Test results: 70 cm deep ECT: 3 Elbow break along facet line at 35cm 3 shoulder isolated column complete failure 2arm (really hammering from shoulder) rest of column prop Layers (from bottom) Facets: ground - 35cm 4F: 35 - 40cm 1F: isolated at - 40cm 4F: 40 - 52cm Fist: 52 - 70cm Wondering if extended column failed to propagate due to pit being dug in area where whumpf had already occurred