Observation Date: 01/09/2012

Route/Location:
Stuart peak in the Rattlesnakes. Ascent via the southwest ridge, and then back down the west/southwest slope.

Weather:
Temperature around 25 at the summit with gusty winds out of the west peaking around 30 or 40 mph. Cloud cover 1/8.

Wind:
No snow being transported. There was a 1/2″ to 1″ sun crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind. on top of everything.

New Snow: No New Snow

Snow DensityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low density (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%).:

Avalanche Activity:
No obvious signs of avalanche activity, and no indicators anywhere along the route. I dug a pit around 7500′, mostly out of curiosity. Total snow depth was 130cm, with the top 25cm fist hardness, the next 25cm 4F, and the bottom 80cm were fist hardness facetsAngular snow with poor bonding created from large temperature gradients within the snowpack.. A shovel shear yielded a Q3 collapseWhen the fracture of a lower snow layer causes an upper layer to fall. Also called a whumpf, this is an obvious sign of instability. within the faceted snowAngular snow with poor bonding created from large temperature gradients within the snowpack. about 30cm up from the ground. A compression test produced no failure.

Other Comments:
A fairly well developed surface hoarFeathery crystals that form on the snow surface during clear and calm conditions - essentially frozen dewFeathery crystals that form on the snow surface during clear and calm conditions - essentially frozen dew. Forms a persistent weak layerA snowpack layer with less strength than adjacent layers. Often the layer in the snowpack where an avalanche fractures. once buried.. Forms a persistent weak layerA snowpack layer with less strength than adjacent layers. Often the layer in the snowpack where an avalanche fractures. once buried. layer has formed on top of the crustA crust is a hard layer of snow where liquid water has refrozen into grain fabric. Crusts usually result from sun, rain or wind.. Hopefully it gets destroyed before the next storm cycle.

Observer: Doug Brinkerhoff