12:30 pm- Overcast skies, breeze from the north, no precip
1:30 pm- Overcast skies, no wind, no precip
3:45 pm- Overcast skies, breeze from the north, no precip
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Independence Mine Area
Took three student groups out to Independence Mine for snow pit practice- one student group went up to Cross Hill (behind Independence Mine), one group went to the benches of Microdot, and one group went to $1000 Run.
Weather
Snow surface
Snow surface was a ~2-4" breakable wind layer in most locations with pockets of soft faceted snow intermixed.
Snowpack
Most of our snow pits found similar data- breakable wind crust at the surface with facets and depth hoar/advanced facets at the base of the snowpack. Below is one of the instructors snow pit info:
Location: Cross Hill (above Independence Mine)
Elevation: 3,926'
Aspect: S
Slope: 28 degrees
Test results: ECTX, CTN, and PST 25/100 End on depth hoar/facets at the base of the snow pack. Student groups had various PST test results that were around similar results on same layer.
The group on $1000 run got CT6 down 12 cm on the wind crust and near surface facets interface and CT10 down 17cm on another facet layer, and ECTX
The group on Microdot benches had no interesting results
Snowpilot
View from Snowpit Location
Depth Hoar Photo
Snowpit