Observation: Summit

Location: Fresno

Date:

December 30, 2018 2:00pm

Observer:

Anna, Sadie, Meg, Ted & Matt AAS Level 2 Students

Route & General Observations

AAS Level 2 toured to investigate the status of persistent weak layer in the shallower Summit zone snowpack.

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

None observed. Intermittent poor visibility made observing difficult.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

Sky: Overcast.
Precipitation: Lightly snowing when arrived, no precipitation most of the tour, but light snow started again around 2pm.
Temperature: 30F
Wind: Calm, except 10-15mph E at higher elevation.

Snow surface

1-2 inches new snow. Some rimed snow crystals present. Light wind effect at mid elevations. Obvious wind effect on ridge line. Ski quality great.

Snowpack

Still shallow snowpack with a similar structure at different elevations.
1100': HS 60cm. Moist basal facets.
2700': HS 75-85cm.
Found layer of concern 55cm below surface on facets above melt/freeze crust. Test results on this layer include: PST 35/100 end. 55cm down on facets above melt freeze crust, CT13 SC at 65cm down.

Photos & Video

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General layering of snowpack at 2700' on Fresno.

Layer of concern, facets over meltfreeze crust propagated across the column in PST test.

Location

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