Echo Peak

Toured up to Echo Peak today. Generally great conditions on the tour up. I was intending on skiing some of the steep terrain in the northeast bowl down to Angora Lake. Based on the Sierra Avalanche Center’s report of buried surface hoar (persistent slab), I decided to dig a pit on the on a north aspect (30 degrees) at 8,500 feet. Ski pen was 20cm and boot pen was 60cm. As I was probing for the height of snow (322cm), I could feel a very weak layer at around 145cm down. I decided to investigate down to that weaker layer and found a lot of near surface facets. I conducted a deep tap test with the following results - DTM(13) sudden planer at 150cm down. I conducted a propagation saw test on the layer at 150cm down resulting in an 80/150 (end). Based on the results, I decided to ski lower angle terrain down the northeast shoulder of the ridge to the lake, skinning up to finish on the lower east glades.

Pics 1-2: Surface Hoar on the way up to Echo Peak

Pics 3-5: CTM(20) at 59cm sudden planar on buried surface hoar.

Pics 6-7: Near surface facets at 150cm down under 1 finger hard snow.