Some Collapsing and ECTP's in Deep Creek

Location Name: 
Deep Creek
Region: 
Cabin Creek, Deep Creek, or Pole Creek Area
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 12/24/2013 - 12:30
Location Map: 
United States
39° 14' 11.1372" N, 120° 16' 3.2268" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Some collapses and shooting cracks occurred in the Deep Creek drainage today. These collapses did not travel very far nor were they widespread. The cracks also did not travel very far and the largest of them only propagated about 3 ft. from the tip of a ski. The additional weight of a person on isolated previously unmolested slopes caused these failures. The Dec 7th facets remain weak in this area and the well consolidated snow above them continues to act as a slab. Snowpit tests on a near treeline N aspect showed that fractures can still propagate along the persistent weak layer.

A shallow snowpack with numerous rock, stumps, trees, and other obstacles existed on the NW-N-NE-E aspects. W-SW-S-SE aspects barely have any snow on them.

Photo 1: A crack resulting from the collapse of the Dec. 7th facets on a N facing slope at about 7600 ft.

Photo 2: Surface hoar on a Ne aspect at 7800 ft. Surface hoar was present on most open slopes up to 8300 ft.

Video: ECTP on a N facing 15 degree slope at 8360 ft.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

ECTP in Deep Creekk