Observations from Upper Ophir Creek

I went to this area looking for the persistent instability that was reported from Tamarack Peak on Thursday and the East shoulder of Mt. Rose proper (Davis Creek area) on Friday. I dug three snowpits along Chickadee Ridge in Upper Ophir Creek. I found little to no evidence on instability in each of these three snowpits and no signs of a persistent weak layer. Pits were dug on a NNW aspect at 8,700' (39.29361, -119.91020), a N aspect at 8,960' (39.29288, -119.90672), and on a NNE aspect at 8,790' (39.29333, -119.90239). In the second pit I did find a small patch of 2mm buried surface hoar that yielded a single ECTP - 21 Q2 result at 202cm of HS 217cm. This patch was so small that it did not spread into adjacent ECT columns as I moved both upslope and across the slope looking for repeatable results. All other results were ECTN in the second pit. All results were ECTN and PST >95% on old/new interface and poorly developed facets either above or below crusts near the old/new snow interface in the first and third pits.

Of significant interest, a snowboarder triggered avalanche occurred nearby on the far end of the Far East Ridge of Tamarack Peak, just above the highway between the Summit and the first turn headed north along the highway. Details of the avalanche will be forthcoming in a separate observation. The mix of these two observations further confirms that good stability exists in some areas while poor stability with persistent slabs exists in other areas of similar terrain, elevation, and aspect.

Photo: Isolated buried surface hoar layer referenced at snowpit site #2. (Note the thin line in the pit wall that I am pointing to.)