CAIC Observation Report
SnowpackDusty Buffington · Feb 27, 2026 · Snowy Range
Weather
air temp (F): 25; cloud cover: few; wind loading: light; snow avail for transport: small smounts
Snowpack
Snowpack in this area is around 130cm deep. Observation pit was dug to approximately 120cm to observe the different layers at low elevations. At the surface there is a melt freeze crust with the following 10-20cm being made up of primarily grauple. Below that there is a slab, primarily made up of dense rounded crystals sitting atop our February 10, persistent weak layer. Directly below the Feb 10 layer is about a 2cm thick layer of Faceted snow. While the facets are decomposing, they could remain potentially reactive below the MFcr from Feb 10. Below that is 4 finger hard snow, primarily made up of rounds continuing to our Christmas crust, which is about 3-5cm thick made up of decomposing facets, pencil hard. And below that is another layer of rounds, 1F hardness.