Wind loading at Meiss

Lots of wind transport observed at Meiss today, with signs of instability on wind loaded slopes, and mixed signs of instability on wind sheltered slopes.

Wind loaded slopes near ridgetop were deceivingly supportable, but investigations below the surface revealed lower density snow underneath. Two ECTs about 50ft apart from each other both propagated on wind slab well above the Feb 11th new/old interface (pic 1). I performed these tests where lower density snow was only 1ft down, but on other slopes I probed the lower density snow 2-3ft down. Near a cornice, an intentional stomp created a ski pole length crack that resulted in a small piece of cornice breaking off (pic 2). This was farther back from where I expected to be able to break it, so after that I stayed away from cornices.

On wind sheltered slopes, I could get test slopes to crack, but only if I undercut them first (pic 3). Mitt pits on the cracks showed the failures to be at the Feb 11th interface. Two ECTs on different wind sheltered slopes did not propagate. 

Snowfall rates were variable throughout the day, with periods of inch-an-hour snow interspersed with periods of strong sunshine.