Snowpit Lower N Pickett Peak

We skied North and North West slopes in the lower Pickett Peak area and made several observations relevant for future travel after new storm snow settles.

Surface Hoar growth was apparent between 7000ft to 8000ft elevations where we skied, with crystals ranging between 5mm and 10mm in length.

We dug a test pit on a NNW, 7500ft elevation, 30 degree slope down to 1m depth and observed stable results.

• ECTN 5 @29cm
• Surface hoar top layer 5mm to 10mm in size
• 29cm of wind blown rounded grains and decomposing fragments (recent wind loading) with fist density
• Layers of rounded grains and increasing density to 1 finger at 29cm, pencil at 62cm, and pencil hard at 81cm and below

The pit results gave us confidence for the day but surface hoar observations throughout the area show that after the next storm cycle this layer should be something to be wary of as conditions throughout the night would be favorable for further growth.