Shirley Canyon Snowpits

We returned to Shirley Canyon today in an effort to evaluate the impacts of this weekends weather on the snow pack, specifically the Dec. 1 weak layer (buried facets at the base of our snow pack). We were limited with time, and were unable to reach higher elevations, but wanted to return to the same area we had traveled on Friday for comparisons sake. With clear skies for the first time since Friday, we were eager to get out and see if there had been any natural activity. While no natural activity was observed, some skiers from earlier in the morning had triggered a small wind slab in steep, E facing terrain that is often loaded. There was also some dry loose sluffing off their tracks in steep terrain that was not impacted by wind. 

As we approached our pit location from Friday, an obvious rain crust could be felt with pole probes. We dug a test pit directly adjacent to Friday's pit location. The HS in that area had increased from 100cm on Friday to 110cm today. All of the snow that had fallen prior to Saturday's rain event was moist, including the facets at the base of our snow pack. Regardless, the facets remain, and while rounding is occurring, they are still fist hard. That being said, the moisture in that layer is allowing the facets to bond well when packed into a snowball. A CT and ECT both delivered results (CTM13, Q2 and ECTP23). 

We continued our ascent and decided to dig again at 7200' on a similar aspect (this aspect was slightly more NE). While the layers in this location were slightly more complex, the presence of moist facets at the base of our snow pack remained. Our test results also remained consistent, with failure in the CT (CTM17) and propagation in 2 of 3 ECT's (ECTP22 and ECTP29).

While we were unable to reach elevations where moisture had not reached the Dec. 1 weak layer, we continue to find weak snow at the base of our snow pack, and test results indicate this layer has the ability to propagate.

After digging we descended low angle terrain and enjoyed awesome turns with great coverage. Some solar aspects had already developed a thin zipper crust from the morning's sun.