Propagation in ECTs on Rubicon

Location Name: 
Rubicon Peak
Region: 
West Shore Area
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/07/2012 - 16:00
Location Map: 
United States
38° 59' 30.1344" N, 120° 8' 4.2396" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Yesterday' snow has settled and consolidated down to about 4 inches on the surface. It remains light and soft. Below this the snow from the end of February and beginning of march has also consolidated into a very cohesive slab layer. The crust/facet weakness still exists below this layer and tests on this layer still indicated that once a fracture starts in this layer it can travel along the weakness. Out of 5 ECTs done between 8200 and 8800 ft 4 of them indicated that propagation remained likely on this layer. Ski cuts on steep northerly facing test slopes where this layer was present did not result in any fractures.

Video: ECT failure with a Q1 fracture on a N facing 27 degree slope at 8600 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

ECT Failure on Rubicon

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
Clear
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: