Hollow sounds in snowpack when traversing across wind slab
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Eddies Mtn
Followed Iditarod Trail from lower parking lot, then branched off at 866 ft on Eddies Mtn uptrack to turnaround at 2092 ft. on NW facing aspect of Eddies.
Observer Comments
Weather
High thin overcast, winds calm, temp in mid teens
Snow surface
At lower elevations near highway, 1 inch loose snow on top of melt/freeze crust. With elevation gain this surface transitioned into mostly loose snow. Above first band of alders on NW aspect at 900 ft? snow surface showed signs of wind transport with a mixture of wind slab and loose snow. This mixed surface transitioned into boiler plate wind slab/sastrugi further up the mtn with the hardest slabs on the ridge apex. NE facing slopes of Eddies were not nearly wind affected and contained mostly loose snow which made the ski out much more enjoyable.
Snowpack
Did quick pit at 1450 ft on 34 deg slope with mixed wind slab and loose snow on NW aspect. Total snowpack = 195 cm. With 0 at top; 0-2 cm = P wind slab, 2-33 cm = 1F rounds; 33-43 = 4F loose sugary snow; 43 - ? 1F rounds. Got ECTP12 Q2 at 43cm from surface with full propagation. Overlying slab slid on loose snow layer. Pit did not go to ground.
Sastrugi on Eddies Mtn at 1870 ft and NW aspect.View to SW.
Alders lower Eddies Mtn