Breakabable crusts, wet snow, and persistent weak layer observations from Jakes Peak

On the northerly aspects, a mix of wet snow and breakable crusts existed on the snow surface at all elevations. Below this surface snow, the upper 4-6 ft of the snowpack remains very strong and supportable. This section of the snowpack consists of hard rounds and rain/melt-freeze crusts. ECTs performed on the upper snowpack indicated that fractures remain unlikely. Below this strong slab the old persistent weak layer still remains. It has gained some strength and shows signs of slowly rounding (photo above). Tests on this layer continue to show that fractures can propagate along the layer (video above). Observations and snowpit data also indicate that transmitting enough force through the strong upper snowpack to break this old PWL is unlikely at this time. Data indicates that breaking the upper slab and getting force down to the weak layer would require a very, very large trigger or some significant weakening of the upper snowpack.

On the SE-S aspects 2-4 inches of soft wet snow existed on the snow surface by noon. Below this soft surface snow the malt freeze layer remained supportable at this time.