Balu test pit

Snowpack

aaronskienns · Nov 13, 2021 · Glacier

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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Weather
cloudy
Ride Type
mellowSlopes, convexSlopes, alpineSlopes, steepSlopes, openTrees
Riding Quality
good
Snow Conditions
powder
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSlab

Test pit dug below Balu, Good skiing in smooth or loaded areas, we still uncovered some early season hazards like rocks, ice, and trees in one of the steeper hospital gullies.

Snowpack

Depth
135
Obs Type
point
Site Aspect
NE
Test Fracture
sudden
Site Elevation
1930
Ski Penetration
0
Test Initiation
moderate
Foot Penetration
0
Test Failure Depth
85
Site Elevation Band
tln
Surface Conditions
newSnow
Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
facets

Test Pit below Balu Pass on a open roll at treeline at 1950m, NE aspect, Hight of Snow 135cm Compression test Easy resistant planar (4-8 taps) down 15cm and 30cm in low destroy fist resistance snow. Result repeated twice Compression test Moderate (15 taps) resistant planar down 60cm below old storm snow, result repeated twice. Compression test Hard (27-30 hits) progressive compression down 85cm of a 1 cm thick layer of 1mm sugary faceted crystals sitting on a knife hard 1cm thick crust (November crust), result repeated once. Compression test Hard (30 hits) sudden collapse (pop) down 85cm in facets above the crust, result repeated once. October crust down 115cm veiled no results