Observation: Hatcher Pass

Location: Eldorado Bench

Date:
Observer:
Eeva Latosuo Professional
Route & General Observations

APU Snow Science 1 toured to northern Eldorado Bowl to check out the snow from the recent storm.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Observer Comments

Only small volume sluffing on ski turns.

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

Clear skies, temps teens to twenties - it was nice to feel the warmth of the the sun.
Calm to very light N winds.
No precipitation.

Snow surface

Mostly soft snow conditions, but definitely varied levels of wind impact from slight wind erosion, 1-5cm wind crust to full on sastrugi at higher ridge line at 4100'

Snowpack

We assessed snow at the 3800' on SE aspect on 30 deg slope.
HS: 130-200 cm, bouldery ground caused uneven snow heights.
Top of the snowpack: 55-70 cm of decomposing particles.
Layer of concern:
Recent storm/old snow interface about 5cm above the distinct rain crust. Saw some rimed particles intermixed with facets in this interface. Took some force to initiate, but showed moderate propagation potential
ECTP21 & CT22SC x3 on this layer.
Did not find surface hoar in the snowpack in this location; basal facets were well developed.

Photos & Video
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Last weekend's storm snow was behaving pretty well. Cool to see (and ski) the difference from last Saturday.  

Location
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