Mt. Rose Observations

Anywhere from 10-30cm of new snow depending on the extent of wind loading.  Consistent cracking occurring around skis on most of the tour.  Many hand pits revealed easy shears within the new storm snow and also just beneath the old snow surface, which was a melt freeze crust at this location.  The bond on the old snow/new snow surface seemed to be good(storm coming in warm) but examining beneath the old snow surface M/F crust revealed small near crust facets and this is where we had many failures with Q1 shears.  Visibility was poor for most of the day with moderate to strong SW winds with good snow transport.  We had many consistent CTE's with in the storm snow and just below the old snow surface M/F crust, sometimes this lower/deeper layer requiring moderate force.  Performed many ECT's with no signs of propagation which matched up with a PST.  There was graupel observed throughout the new snow but didn't have a specific layer or shear failure.  In the more wind effected areas the newly formed wind slab was 1F hardness.  Most tests conducted between 8900' and 9100' NE-E aspects.  The snow event was roughly  5-10am in our area, it felt that the new slab was just starting to build as the precipitation tapered off in the afternoon, we’ll see how tonight’s new load bonds to the existing snow. 

RB-6 MB 31 degree slope, 9100', E aspect down 15cm within new snow.

PST 100/100 END down 24cm just below the old snow surface M/F crust in the near crust facets.       

Photo: Shooting cracks off of skis.  Only occurred when we took the support out from down slope of the new snow, example-switchback over the skin track(pie cut) or above a snow pit that we had dug.