Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Marcus Dufort

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Silver Mountain

Latitude
34.211245

Longitude
-116.86092

Date (yyyymmdd)
20210313

Time
12:30PM

Road conditions to area
Clear until 4000'. Chain control, packed powder conditions all the way up to Big Bear Lake

Temperature
37°F

Sky
clear (no clouds)

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

Wind direction
NE

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
24

Elevation
8,540

Snow depth
91 cm

Boot/ Ski penetration
40 cm / 20 cm

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
Posted Saturday morning after the March 11th storm. Rode the lifts to the top of Silver Mountain (Chair 4) at Big Bear Resort. Temps were cold today with no wind. Occasional 10 mph gust from the NE. Very light, dry powder. Calf-deep snowpack walking up to the pit site. Predicted a weak interface between new 14" snow and prior melt freeze crust. Tests showed very cohesive snowpack and unreactive. Very stable, only noticed a slight compressive shear between wind slab and storm layer. No propagation. Tried 3 tests. Results were ECTX, CTN and STN. I would still watch those crust interfaces and deeper faceted rounds for possible deep slab problems but considering today's NE aspect, the snowpack looks well bonded and cohesive throughout. Let's get some more!

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published

Snow pit dug down to ground powder over crust

Pit profile