Upside Down Storm Snow on Silver Peak

Dense heavy snow existed on top of lighter storm snow at all elevations on Silver Peak today. The upper layer of snow was sometimes ski supportable above 7000 ft. and sometimes not. In sheltered near and below treeline terrain, the dense heavy layer of snow measured about 6 inches thick. In near and above treeline areas where wind-loading had occurred, this layer measured up to 18 inches thick. Below this dense heavy snow, softer snow existed followed by another density change with a rain crust that formed at the beginning of this storm below all of the storm snow. Snowpit tests on a wind-loaded slope near the Silver Peak ridgeline did yield some unstable results with ECTP results on the interface between the dense wind slab and the softer snow below it, but when I performed a 2m long ECT the fracture would not propagate across the longer column (see snowpit). Other observations, hand pits, and snowpit tests indicated that in many areas the storm snow is settling and consolidating quickly. Ski cuts on test slopes did not trigger any signs of instability. Identifying where natural avalanches may have occurred was difficult due to a lack of visibility. 

Photo 1: ECTP 16 28cm below the surface at a density change between a dense heavy wind slab and softer storm snow

Photo 2: 2m long ECTN 16 on the same layer as the ECTP

Photo 3: Rain runnels and wet sticky snow existed on slopes below 7000 ft. 

Photo 4: Settlement cracks around a tree at 7500 ft. on a N aspect