February 8, 2017

Observations

Arctic Valley backcountry:

Obvious signs of instability:

  • None observed

Weather:

  • Partly cloudy skies becoming obscured with very light snow flurries
  • Temps in the upper teens to lower 20s
  • Calm to very light wind

Surface conditions:

  • Variable wind-affected snow: supportable windboard, breakable windboard, sastrugi

Snowpack:

Nike chutes snowpit, ~3600′ (map elevation is incorrect), 338* N aspect, 39* slope, HS 55-60cm, ECTN6 down 10cm (1F-4F density change), ECTP5Q3 & ECTP3Q2 ground (advanced facets, depth hoar):

~3600′ S aspect snowpit (approximately same elevation but opposite side of ridge from above photos), ECTX:

Impromptu discussion: