Dug a couple of pits

Map for Mountain Information Network report: Dug a couple of pits

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Good
Snow conditions were:
  • Powder
We rode:
  • Dense trees
  • Mellow slopes
  • Open trees
We stayed away from:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Convex slopes
  • Steep slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Cloudy
  • Warm
Avalanche conditions
  • 30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

Comments

Dug a couple of pits today on N, W and S aspect at tree line around 1200m, between 1st and 2nd knolls.

Noticed a prominent rain crust at 30-35 cm depth. An ECT on 26deg slope resulted in sudden crack on 5th hit from wrist (see photos). Crack was just underneath rain crust.

I’m guessing new snow has bonded well to crust, but layer underneath crust is weaker.

Skied one pitch of open trees. Nice snow, some sluff that ran, but not too far.

No shooting cracks, whoompfing, etc observed during skinning.