Observation type
Snowpack​

Observer
Peter Asmuth

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Hwy 2 Gate before Waterman 

Latitude


Longitude


Date (yyyymmdd)
12/31/21

Time
8am

Road conditions to area


Temperature
32 to 38

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)

Wind direction
SW

Wind direction in degrees


Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees


Slope angle
25

Elevation
6600

Snow depth
42 in

Boot/ Ski penetration


Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description


Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
yes

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
Hi! I haven’t submitted a report before so will give the info that we collected, hope it can help!
Intended to tour Kratka Ridge but the gate was closed before Waterman. We chose the peak to the south of the highway starting at 6k feet and climbed to around 6700ft. The coverage was good and no one in our group of 5 hit buried objects. 
The pole penetration was an approx 2 inch crust layer above a soft but consistent snowpack of approx 2.5 feet at base to 3.5 feet at top. 
Some visible surface hoar near the top.
We dug a N/NE 100cm deep pit at the top on the leeward slope and did a visual, hardness and 30cm column test.
There was a 1 inch crust layer, another visible layer at 10 inches (likely wind transport) then uniform from there to dirt. No evidence of previous base. Was consistent transition from fist to 4 finger top to bottom and last couple inches were 1 finger. Other than the crust and the wind deposit it looked like a solid gradient softer up top compacting as it went down. Snow quality looked good, no evidence of rotten or faceted crystals. 
The wind layer fractured at 4 but didn’t release, was able to move it at 7, nothing more from there. 
Overall we felt good about what we saw and felt. the crust layer was challenging and ultimately the primary concern for the day, made for tricky turning and freeze layers below trees from drips and globbing. Day started around freezing and there was some warming over the course of our 3 laps, the last lap was great as the upper crust softened a little. Imagine wet loose might become a concern with afternoon warming.
We avoided steep terrain due to the crust layer and it made the skiing sub-par, but overall a great day!

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