New Snow on Rubicon Peak

New snow on Rubicon measured about 10 cm below 8000 ft and increased in depth to about 20 cm by 9000 ft. Below 8200 ft. some cracking did occur while skinning through the lower elevation terrain. The weak layer that failed in this cracking was the interface between the new snow and the melt-freeze crust below it. This cracking only occurred in low elevation areas where a very shallow (less than 25 cm) snowpack existed. Above 8200 ft. the snowpack grew to 50 to 70 cm, and this cracking ceased to occur. Hand pits and general observations indicated that the new snow had bonded well to the old snow surfaces in most places. Snowpit tests also confirmed this data. Tests targeting the facets buried in the bottom half of the snowpack showed that they have gained strength and are able to support the current snowpack. 

Near the summit of Rubicon, some small wind slabs did exist. Ski cuts and weighting test slopes with these small 15 to 20 cm thick wind slabs did not show any signs of instability unless the slope was first undercut. On those previously undercut slopes some minor and inconsequential skier triggered cracking did occur (see photo).