Observations from Tamarack Peak

Numerous roller balls and pinwheels occurred on E-SE-S aspects in the Tamarack Peak area today. The loose wet snow instabilities also occurred on some ENE slopes as daytime warming caused wet snow to form on the snow surface today. Many NE-E-SE-S aspects had a breakable crust on the surface in areas where warming occurred yesterday and refroze overnight or where today's warming was already refreezing. The shaded and sheltered north aspects still held cold dry snow above 9200 ft.

Ski cuts and snowpit tests on steep wind-loaded test slopes and on steep non wind-loaded test slopes did not reveal signs of snowpack instability. Data showed a snowpack that has begun settling and consolidating. Extended Column Tests performed at 39.319418, -119.922380 on a NE aspect and at 39.312173, -119.906415 on a N aspect all yielded ECTN results with fractured in the recent snow that did not propagate across the column. Large cornice pieces dropped onto wind loaded slopes also did not trigger any signs of instability.

Photos 1 and 2: Loose wet roller balls on the Proletariat (E aspect) and the Fireplug (E-SE aspect).

Photo 3: ECTN's in the recent snow on the far east ridge of Tamarack.

Photo 4: Cornice pieces dropped onto a slope that did not trigger any cracking but did trigger roller balls and pinwheels.