Aspen
SnowpackJohn T. Unger · Mar 6, 2014 · Aspen
Weather
As predicted, received 14" new snow between 3 a.m. and noon that day, winds 15 - 25 mph with higher gusts from W and SW mostly. Previous day's sun had left a slight glaze surface.
Snowpack
Dug pit to ground (72 inches deep) 1 p.m. about 25 degree slope on S/SE aspect, 11,300' elevation. Clearly visible ice and crust layers throughout. Isolated column test done, and as soon as last saw cut isolated top of column, that day's new 14" of new snow immediately shifted, dropping perceptibly on the 10 mm thick crust it rested upon, which was single finger hardness. Below that crust (apparently from Friday's sunshine) was 3 and a half inches of snow resting on a 25 mm thick ice layer, of knifepoint hardness (visible at top of photo). Below that layer was single finger hardness snow 5" thick, resting on another 10 mm thick crust of pencil hardness, which is where the column failed on 26th tap (6th tap using shoulder articulation). Column failure here resulted in a discrete block and a very clean "high-energy" sliding release. Shovel pry test on remainder of column led to failure 15" above ground surface, again as a single discrete block. Immediately beneath each of the several crust layers in the lower third of pit, rounded grains and extremely sugar snow had fallen out dramatically (from half an inch or deeper under crust layers) upon being exposed with the vertical shovel cuts, before any "brushing" of the face had been done with a glove.