No cracking or collapsing.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Lower Eldorado Bowl
Went for a short tour into Eldorado Bowl to see what our persistent slab problem is doing. Flat light conditions made riding variable snow all the more tricky.
Observer Comments
Weather
Independence mine parking lot @ 9:45am 22°F light East winds, overcast, no new precipitation
Snow surface
Snow surface has been greatly effected by previous winds. Gullies on lower Eldorado were extremely cross loaded. Pencil hard slabs and knee deep facets can be experienced in a very short distance. While ascending to Lower Eldorado we had near zero risk of an avalanche, due to the fact that we booted up tundra. Is there a SWAG symbol for crow berries? Height snow ranged from 0-4'.
Snowpack
The snowpack in our pit had poor structure, high strength, and low propagation potential. During instability tests we observed moderate to hard results with no propagation. These results occurred in a density change in the upper snowpack(see photo below).
Lower Eldorado bowl
HS 120 3800' W 12°
CT3PC density change 10cm from surface wind slab sitting on top rounds/decomposing fragments
CT14 PC density change 20cm from surface
ECTN 22 density change 20cm from surface
IMG_7011
Upper Eldorado showing signs of wind scouring
Still poor coverage even on leeward features.