Schallenberger Ridge snowpit

Toured up the N side of schallenberger ridge to get outside and check in on the storm layer.

At 3PM the temp hovered right around freezing (32F) at donner lake. Heavy snowfall was consistent throughout the tour. Looked like ~4" of accumulation on the car when we returned 90 mins later.

We the Stayed in the trees in low angle terrain and away from the gullies as we ascended. The snow on the bottom 600ft was very thick and wet. Snow above 7000ft was noticeably lighter and deeper. No signs of instability on the way up.

We dug a snowpit near the top of the treeline at about 7400ft. 2 feet of fresh snow was observed on top of the old crust layer. Observed a very fragile interface within the new storm layer 25cm down. Snowpit test resulted in a CTE-1 failing at this layer (see picture attached). A previous test showed a collapse of this layer upon isolation. The snow in this top layer, however, was still fairly unconsolidated.

Continuing after this this initial failure was observed, we were also able to trigger a CTM-17 on the interface of the old crust to new storm slab about 60cm down. A couple shovel prys in the pit also showed this as a vulnerable interface.

Descended in the trees in low angle staying up on the ridge. No signs of instability observed on the way down. Still very thick and heavy below 6600ft.