Unconsolidated snow, small wind slabs, and buried wet rain crusts on Jakes Peak

20-30 cm of soft unconsolidated snow remained on all aspects above 7000 ft on Jakes Peak as of noon. On the more sun exposed SE-S aspects the sun was just starting to make the snow heavier and slightly wet near the surface below 7000 ft. Below this surface snow the recent snow becomes stronger and more dense. A still-wet rain/wet snow layer exists between 80 and 150 cm down in the recent snow. At the lower elevations where more rain fell this layer is 10-15cm thick. Another 80 to 100 cm below this layer the persistent weak layer of crusts and facets still remains. ECT's performed on the storm snow showed that the storm weaknesses continue to gain strength and that propagation along these layers is now unlikely in most areas (Top of snowpack = 177cm - ECTN 7 @ 150cm, ECTN 20 @130cm, ECTN 30 @ 90cm). A Deep Tap test on the PWL 160 cm below the surface resulted in a failure with a sudden collapse indicating that this layer remains weak.

Ski cuts on steep wind loaded and cross loaded NE and SE aspects did result in very small shooting cracks (up to 2 ft) in near and above treeline terrain. These quickly stopped occurring once one descended off the ridge tops. Ski cuts also triggered small loose snow sluffs. Several loose snow sluffs that occurred yesterday were also visible on steep terrain.

Photo 1: Loose snow sluff on a near treeline NE facing aspect that occurred yesterday

Photo 2: Small wind slab on a NE facing above treeline slope.