Weak Snow on Tamarack Peak

Today we made a trip back up to Tamarack Peak. The new snow from the 12/6 to 12/7 storm had consolidated into 1 to 2 inches on top of the old snow. Most areas also had a thin rain/mist crust on the surface. This crust was thicker at the lower elevations and barely there at the top of Tamarack. Many areas did not have much other than dirt and rocks below the new snow. The northerly aspects were the exception. They continue to hold a mostly supportable base of snow left-over from late October and early November. During the dry spell, this old snow has been getting weaker. We have been tracking how the weakness develops. Here on Tamarack Peak, we were targeting areas where we have seen weak snow earlier in the season. Today we saw more weak snow in the mid and upper snowpack on the northerly aspects. The old crusts continue to break down into weak sugary snow (facets) in these areas. Snowpit data and observations showed that these facets are weakest and most well developed above 9000 ft today. Snowpit tests indicated that they could become problematic when they get loaded with enough new snow. 

We also looked at some wind-loaded test slopes today and did not see any signs of instability associated with them. 

There are still plenty of barely covered rocks and other obstacles in this area especially at the lower elevations near the trailhead.