Shallow Weak Snow in the Tamarack Peak Area

The snowpack in this area has lost volume since the last storm. Snow depth ranged form 10cm to 45cm. Numerous rocks, stumps, areas of bare ground, and other obstacles existed on northerly aspects. Most aspects facing the southern half of the compass had no snow on them. On those northerly aspects, the snowpack is becoming more stable for no other reason than all of the layers are losing strength. This loss of strength means that what was once a slab above a weak layer has started to become just one big weak layer. In areas where the upper part of the snowpack still exhibited slab like traits, some minor collapsing and cracking still occurred. Snowpit tests indicated that propagation along the Dec 7th facets may have become less likely in some areas. This data and the observed small collapses and cracks contradict each other highlighting the variability in the current snowpack. Due to the uncertainty and variability of the snowpack and the certainty that a persistent weak layer does exist, we only traveled on low angle slopes.

Photo 1: Facets near the base of the snowpack.

Photo 2: Prolateriate and Mt Rose. Note the lack of snow on the southerly aspects and the numerous rocks visible on the E and NE aspects.