Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Stephanie Robertson

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Angelus Oaks

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20260219

Time
0900

Road conditions to area
Icy

Temperature
28

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
not observed

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
not observed

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
27

Elevation
5820’

Snow depth
45cm

Boot/ Ski penetration

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
Snowpack structure:
0-15 cm 4F soft storm snow 
15-20 cm F weak cohesive layer, easily pulled off in chunks
20-28 cm 4F soft layer
28-36 cm 2F slab (compression noted during CT)
36-38 cm P ice crust
38-45 cm 4F soft layer

Observed grain type: Faceted crystals (FC) in weak layers

Stability Tests and Observations:
Boot/snowshoe test: No failures produced.
Hand pit: Two distinct weak layers easily pulled off in cohesive blocks, indicating poor bonding and low cohesion. Failures occurred as cohesive blocks rather than sluffing.
Hand hardness profile: Multiple soft layers sandwiched between harder layers, including a pronounced ice crust near the base.
Compression test (CT): CT2H @ 28-36 cm (2F slab). No complete failure observed.

Snow pack structure indicates potential for storm slab now, with potential for wet slab with warming temperatures or additional precipitation. Weak layers are continuous and easily fall in blocks, suggesting poor bonding beneath developing slab and above an ice crust.

Also found some wind drifts up to 110cm depth on same aspect slope.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Publish

FC snadwhiches between icy layers

Hand test