Observation: Turnagain

Location: Cornbiscuit

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Toured standard Cornbiscuit up track to a high point of 2800′. Looking at the distribution and reactivity of the 1/21 Buried Surface Hoar (MLK Jr BSH), as well as any signs of instability related to the recent increased winds and the new snow/old snow interface.

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

We did observe a new glide crack opening on SW shoulder of Cornbiscuit.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Temp - Mid Teens
Overcast sky turning to obscured throughout day
No Precip in morning
Precip increasing to S1 in afternoon
Calm-Light winds, increasing through afternoon

Snow surface

Road to ~1500': Approx 5" of soft snow on top of a supportable crust. Hand shears breaking in a planar fashion above the supportable crust in facets. Slightly upside down.
~1700': Approx 5" of soft snow on top of a unsupportable crust
~1850': An obvious 1" wind skin/small slab forms
~2300': Windslab becomes more noticeable/supportable in wind loaded zones.

Snowpack

The MLK Jr Day (1/21) BSH was still found at multiple elevation bands on cornbiscuit. While it was still visible within the pit wall, we could only get a collapse on that layer, but were unable to get propagation.
Above the MLK Jr Day (1/21) BSH we found a new old interface of near surface facets buried approx 5" down increasing with elevation, shearing in a planar fashion but lacking much of a slab above it. A layer to track with the increasing snow and load.

Starting at 2300' (HS:155 & 157cm) - We found NSF facets buried 20cm down in two pit locations on the same elevation band and a West aspect. Both pits had a collapse on this layer but no propagation(CT12, CT13x2, CT16, ECTX). In the same pits we were able to find the MLK Jr (1/21) BSH buried 45-50cm down, in these locations it also had .5mm facets with the BSH and pieces of Melt forms. Not a fully intact crust, but in pieces. This layer also had collapse but no propagation (CT20, CT27, CTN, ECTX)

At 2800' (HS: 155 & 225) - We found NSF facets buried 20cm down in two pit locations on the same elevation band and a West Northwest aspect. The shallower pit just had more scouring. In both locations there was collapse on this NSF, but no propagation (CT3, CT5, CT6, ECTX). In the same pits we were able to find the MLK Jr (1/21) BSH buried 45cm and 65cm. This layer also collapsed but showed no propagation. (CT24,CT26,ECTX)

Photos & Video
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