Observations from Elephant's Back

Photos 1 and 2: Widespread graupel observed, both where wind had stripped new snow from above it, and where wind was depositing it. In areas with enough deposition to test, two graupel layers within new snow were reactive to hand shears. New snow was bonding well to old snow.

Photo 3: Moderate to strong winds, yet only light windloading. I think there was just not much snow last night, and what did fall had already been redistributed. Very little (0 to 3cm) new snow remaining on windward aspects. Pictured lee aspect would normally receive significant wind loading with observed wind speed and direction. Note an old crown (observed over a week ago) and old tracks are still visible.

However, pockets of wind slab deep enough to cause harm were observed in isolated areas. Consistent hand shear failures on graupel layers in these areas. Unfortunately, these wind loaded areas were also about the only good skiing! And shallow ski pen (2 to 5cm) made it difficult to judge slab depth informally.

Photo 4: Graupel as weak layer for ECTP13 Q2 @ 30cm. 2nd test: ECTP14 Q2 @ 30cm. A second graupel layer existed at 40cm and was reactive to hand shears. New / old snow interface at 45cm was unreactive to hand shears.