No obvious signs of instability.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Marmot Shoulder
Took standard uptrack to low shoulder of Marmot to assess stability and do some pow farming.
Observer Comments
Weather
Light winds, actively snowing, 30 degree temps.
Snow surface
6 inches of new and very dense/high moisture content snow.
Snowpack
Pit located on 25 degree slope on the SW shoulder of Marmot. Snowpack consisted of 6-8 inches of new, high density snow on top of 6 inches of knife-hard crust. Below the knife-hard crust is approximately 3-4 feet of cohesive isothermal/rotten snow. Two column tests were performed, neither produced a result-- no failure during normal test parameters. Both columns fractured (Q2) below the knife-hard crust when a member of the observer's group stomped on the column.
Failure below knife hard crust at CTstomp.
Consistent to the ground with 6in knife hard and 6-8in of high density powder on top.