Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Allen Giernet
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Kratka Ridge area
Date (yyyymmdd)
20130317
Time
noon
Road conditions to area
clear and dry
Temperature
10°c
Sky
few clouds (up to 2/8)
Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)
Wind direction
not observed
Slope aspect
North West
Aspect in degrees
320°
Slope angle
35°
Elevation
7300'
Snow depth
63cm
Boot/ Ski penetration
3 - 5cm
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
yes
Obvious avalanche path
no
Terrain trap
no
Comment
Snow pack appears to have somewhat refroze last night. Conditions were variable from corn to fairly firm with icy crust in tree sheltered areas.

Snow pack profile (this was below a tree sheltered area on a slope that does not see much direct sun)
Temp. Gradient
surface loose corn
⇓ to 55cm 4F 1mm-.5mm rounds (wet) 53cm 1°c
55 ⇓ 48cm 1F .5mm rounds (wet) 43cm .5°c 
48 ⇓ 35cm F 1mm rounds (wet) 33cm 0°c
35 ⇓ 25cm 4F 1.5mm rounding facets (wet) 23cm -.5°c
25 ⇓ hard ice to ground with refrozen chunks 13cm -.5°c 
of facets at the base about 1 to 2 cm Gnd 0°c

High water content all layers

2 tests CTV Q2 16cm⇓ both blocks failed on isolation. They appeared to fail on the interface at 48cm between the 1F and Fist layer, area was very loose with a high water content so I suspect it was well lubricated and had very little adhesion. there seemed to be no propagation but later in the afternoon as things continued to warm there's a good chance this interface would have produced wet slides. 

Late morning things were loose enough to get some good turns in. Get it earlier than later. there was enough snow depth that with selective turns I never hit anything and the pack was still fairly firm. Leaving around 1:30 the lower was softening into mashed potatoes. Watch for wet slides. 
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looking down from near ridge east of lift

looking up from base parking