Observations from Mt. Strachan - 090106

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Forecaster Posted: 01-06-2009 4:42 PM

Observations from Mt. Strachan on the North Shore outside Cypress Ski Area, 0900-1200:

• Snowing 2cm/hr
• Moderate SE winds
• Obscured sky cover
• 35cm foot penetration
• 15cm ski penetration
• moderate extent of blowing snow at ridgetop
• average 245cm snow depth at treeline
• 7cm of 24h snowfall (HN24)
• Compression test on a SE aspect at 1480m with a slope angle of 28deg gave:
  • Easy (1 tap) progressive compression down 7cm on the HN24 interface
  • Hard (28 taps) non-planar break down 60cm in a 10cm thick softer (1F-) layer between two harder (1F) layers
• Rutschblock test on a N aspect at 1470m with a slope angle of 35deg gave:
  • RB1 (failed while stepping on the block) whole block release down 10cm on the HN24 interface
  • RB6 (multiple jumps on the block) edge of block release doen 115cm on a 3cm thick softer (1F-) layer between two harder (1F) layers 5 cm above a thin ice lens
• ski cut several size 1 soft slab avalanches up to 15cm thick on convex rolls