Observation Date: 02/11/2012

Route/Location:
Wisherd Ridge – 2nd Bowl, Suzie (1st) Bowl

Weather:
The sky was partly cloudy, there was no wind, it was not snowing, and the air temp was 32 degrees.

Wind:
It was not windy when we were out, but we saw signs of slight wind loadingThe addition of weight on top of a snowpack, usually from precipitation, wind drifting, or a person.The added weight of wind drifted snow. up top.

New Snow: 0-3″

Avalanche Activity:
The conditions seemed pretty stable, although we saw signs of point releases on the South facing aspectThe compass direction a slope faces i.e. North, South, East, West. of 2nd bowl and 1st bowl. We believe that was due to the new snow sliding on the buried 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., and that the point releases were in shallow areas of rock bands at about 6700 ft.
We dug a pit on an 35 degree, E facing slope of 2nd bowl at 6960 ft. The snowpack was 200cm deep. Some of our test scores were: CT 21 Q2 (at 188cm) , SSM Q2 (at 188cm), SSH Q2 (150 cm), CT13 Q2 (150 cm), ECTN, SSVH Q3 (110cm), ECTN. The snow felt settled underneath the 3+ inches of new snow on the 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.. There was some sluffing on that 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 on the first few turns.

Other Comments:

Observer: Elizabeth Fricke