Small wind slabs and soft snow near Frog Lake

Soft unconsolidated snow still exists on the sheltered NW-N-NE aspects as well as the shaded E aspects in this area. Below the soft recent snow, old snow and old crusts with softer snow(facets) below them existed on these sheltered aspects. Probing, several hand pits, and several test pits showed that the facets below the rain crusts on NW-N-NE aspects between 9200 ft. and 8000 ft. were not well developed and numerous Extended Column Tests (ECTNx2 on NW aspects @ 9000 ft and 8600 ft, ECTNx3 on N aspects @ 9200 ft, 8800ft, and 8200 ft, ECTNx2 on NE aspects at 8800 ft and 8400 ft.) and Propagation Saw Tests (PST 60/100 on the NE aspect at 8400 ft.) indicated that fractures were unlikely to travel along these facets. One ski cut on a steep unsupported N facing test slope at 8720 ft did result in a small soft slab failure that released on the interface between the old snow above the crust and the recent snow. This slab only propagated about 1 ft from the end of my skis. The NE winds from last night had scoured some snow away from the more exposed N-NE aspects in near and above treeline terrain leaving wind scoured features behind. These winds also formed some firm wind slabs on the SW-W aspects in this area. These wind slabs rested on old crusts and some consolidated old snow. Tests on these wind slabs showed that fractures could propagate along the boundary between the old snow and the new wind slabs. The new wind slabs did not extend very far away from the ridgelines in the Frog Lake area. The snow was starting to become wet and sticky on the sun exposed E-SE-S aspects in this area this afternoon.

Photo 1: A small loose dry snow sluff on a steep NE facing test slope at 8800 ft.

Photo 2: A small soft slabs triggered by a ski cut on a steep unsupported N facing test slope at 8720 ft. that released on the interface between the old snow above the crust and the recent snow. This slab only propagated about 1 ft from the end of my skis.

Photo 3: Wind scoured near treeline NE aspects

Video 1: ECTP on a SW facing test slope with a small wind slab formed by last night's NE winds.

Video 2: ECTN on a sheltered below treeline NNW aspect at 8600 ft. Coordinates attached to this observation mark the location of this video.