Sargents

Location Name: 
Sargents
Region: 
Brundage Out of Bounds
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/05/2019 - 16:02


Red Flags: 
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Quick OB from Sargents, broke trail up SW facing slope.

HST - 22" settled.  Snow at base sitting on cust is damp and seems to be bonded.

1st photo:  ECTN isolated with pole to crust.  Column just collapsed.

Overall a density inversion/crust sits approx. 4" below the surface and is 2-4" thick.  Easy to isolate pole columns to crust.  A break at the base of the inversions on pole columns, not much of a shear. The crust/inversion is almost supportable but was cracking (2nd photo) with local collasping by the 3rd lap (solo) and cracks were not shooting or propagating  but prevalent over the length of the trail I broke.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Overall the snow seems to be plastered on things pretty good in this area.  I did not observe any major signs of instability.  I did avoid the upper most ridge.  I did observe wind slabs at my high point and was not able to isolate them on every try. 

The hazard is a hard call, I would say Moderate in the area I traveled which avoided upper elevation wind loaded terrain.  I would guess Considerable in upper elevation terrain.

I ski cut and prodded the road cuts while exiting with a bit of sluffing being the only reaction.  I would imagine some of the new snow instabilities in this area are settling out.

Ski penetration was minimal above 6700’ or so due to the crust/inversion. 

Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Some light snow with rimed dendrites at times.

Thck Fog.