ECTPs at Deep Creek

Toured in Deep Creek today to look at snowpack with our AIARE 2 class. We were able to find the 12/11 facet layer in near treeline north facing terrain consistent with observations around the forecast area. At the noted location (39.2447, -120.2400) the snowpack was around a meter deep with an obvious stiffer slab overlying the 12/11 facets which were dry, coarse, and bounced in a gloved hand. Closer inspection showed facets with signs of rounding 1-2 mm in size. 

We completed 5 pits adjacent to each other and got 3 ECTPs on the 12/11 layer, and 4 CTs had SC results on the same layer. Failure were right at the top of the facets where a thin crust had formed at the start of snowfall on 12/11. These results indicated to us that propagation is still possible on this layer in some locations. 

We observed no other signs of instability- no whumphing, cracking or avalanches. 

Skiing down the north facefrom 7800' was decent breakable crust (is that a thing?) until around 7000' where we entered thicker trees and snow became stickier and coverage started to get thinner. As we descended further the coverage became an issue with many barely covered logs and willows making travel tricky.