Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Jesse 

Keep me anonymous if published
no

​Location (general area)
2 miles West of Waterman

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
20191230

Time
14:00

Road conditions to area
Clear 

Temperature
-4 C

Sky
Scattered clouds (3/8 to 4/8)

Wind speed
Moderate (17-25mph Small trees sway/ flags stretched)

Wind direction
E

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
32

Elevation
7320

Snow depth
120cm 

Boot/ Ski penetration
>12in

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
Strong east winds have transported snow onto leeward slopes. Pockets of wind-drifted snow were found in North-facing gullies, with isolated areas of sastrugi snow on ridgelines. 

A snowpit revealed a thin crust layer at 45cm, and a 15cm melt-freeze crust at the base of the snowpack. Compression test produced no results (CTX) and a shovel shear test showed poor shear quality.

No signs of instability (shooting cracks, whumping, or natural slides) were observed on the tour.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Sastrugi on snow