Localized cracking in 2-4" thick wind slabs sitting on near surface facets.
Observation: Hatcher Pass
Location: Microdot
Toured up Microdot SE ridge to the col. Descended Nosebleeds to Gold Cord Lake. Terrible skiing and flat light with a great partner make for a fun day out in the mountains.
Observer Comments
Weather
Snowing <1 cm per hour. Wind light gusting to moderate from the ESE and SE, increasing throughout the day. Temperature in the mid 20's.
Snow surface
Wind packed powder, breakable wind crust, supportable "slide for life" wind slab. Small pockets of settled powder on north aspects.
Snowpack
Dug a pit at 4688' near the Microdot col, south aspect, 28 degree slope. HS = 140 cm. Dug near where BSH was previously found. CT17RP, ECTN21 down 20 cm, wind slab on 1mm near surface facets. PST 52/100 END down 80 cm on BSH / 2mm facets above MFC. No other results on this layer.
4688' near the Microdot col, south aspect, 28 degree slope. HS = 140 cm. CT17RP, ECTN21 down 20 cm, wind slab on 1mm near surface facets. PST 52/100 END down 80 cm on BSH / 2mm facets above MFC. No other results on this layer.
Extremely variable snowpack depths at upper elevations.
Longtime Hatcher Pass skier Ralph Baldwin navigates flat light and breakable crust on the north side of Microdot.