Observation type - Snowpack
Observer - Hans Ludwig
Keep me anonymous if published - no
Location (general area) - Kratka Ridge
Date (yyyymmdd) - 20141217
Time - 9:30-11
Road conditions to area - Icy but clear on way up. Completely clear and dry on way down.
Temperature - 0º C (32ºF)
Sky - Obscured (fog or base layer prevents view of sky)
Wind speed - Calm (smoke rises vertically)
Wind direction - not observed
Slope aspect - North
Slope angle - 23º
Elevation - 6860'
Snow depth - 35cm
Boot/ Ski penetration - Anke-Shin deep. Clean
Precipitation - Light
Activity, recent avalanches - No
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, collapsing - no
Rapid warming - no
Obvious avalanche path - yes
Terrain trap - no
Comment - No need for your rock-board; the tide is in my friends!
Save weight and leave your skins in the car; no need for the long, switchbacky skin track. I made a bootpack from the bottom to the top.
The mountain is well covered with a strong base and a dusting —or rather smearing—of heavy new snow. It's surface is not smooth, but I didn't hit any rocks all day.

Snow 'sticks' in the shade above 5800'
*****************************
9:50 AM the morning after a night storm
6860'
NE aspect
∠23º

35 cm Deep snowpack
35-30 cm (F) moist new powder [last 24 hrs]
30-20 cm (4F) older new snow [last weekend]
20-7 cm (F) refreeze corn [First week of Nov]
7-0 cm (4F) older snow
*Talus*

STM @15cm from talus (middle of the old snow)
CTN 
ECTX
*****************************
10:30
7120'
N aspect
∠30º

45cm deep snowpack with similar stratigraphy as before; just wider

STN – It slid from the ground (pine needles) with surprising ease, as one cohesive block
CT22(Q3) @15cm from talus
ECTN22(Q3) @15cm from talus
*************
11:00
7430'
NNE aspect
∠30º

35cm deep snowpack
35-31cm (F) Heavy new snow [last 24 hrs]
31-26 (4F) Firmer new snow. [last week] Graupel around 27cm?
26-23cm (1F) Crust [First week of Nov]
23-17(4F) Corn (Graupel revealed on ECT fracture @20cm?)
17-15(1F) Crust
15-0(4F) 
*Talus*

ECTN23(Q3) @20cm on graupel?
File description - Q3 ECTN @ 7120'
File description - Pano from the lift
Publish this observation - Yes I would like this observation Published
Pano from the lift
Q3 ECTN @ 7120'