Observation 1/23/2024 local_see
Snow Pit Results and Observations from Giant Mountain East Face Slide
Giant Mountain East Face Slide
Observation Details
Location:
Southernmost portion of the East Face Slide on Giant Mountain.
Details and General Observations:
Skied partway down the East slide among treed/brushy areas to skier's right. Made careful turns in isolated pockets between tree/brush islands. Lots of wind affected snow. Mix of supportable windslab and wind-scoured areas with exposed ice steps. Consistent top layer of wind slab that varied from 1 cm to 30 cm thick above a firm, ice-crust layer. Triggered several small (2-3 meters wide, 1-2 meters in length) and shallow (<10 cm) wind slabs in isolated pockets. Dug a pit in a protected area.
Snow Pit Description:
The pit was dug in a sheltered area beneath a stand of trees/brush on the southern portion of the East Face Slide. Snowpack was deeper in this area due to wind loading, however the pit was representative of the type of snow that would make for better skiing as many other places were wind scoured. Total snow depth at the pit was 70cm - 94 cm.
Snow Pit Layer Analysis:
94 cm - 80 cm = Fist
80 cm - 75 cm = Four Finger
75 cm - 60 cm = Fist
60 cm - 50 cm = Pencil to Knife
50 cm - 30 cm = Four Finger
30 cm - 25 cm = Pencil to Knife
25 cm - Base = Variable hardness, some facets at bottom but seems well bonded overall
Extended Column Test:
ETCP12, 30 cm below surface. Use shovel to separate top wind slab which separated cleanly across entire column of snow (see photo). Small fractures with less propagation also observed below the pencil to knife layer, around 40cm below surface.
Interpretation:
Reactive wind slab layer above a crust layer (pencil or knife hardness). While traveling we could feel the crust layer beneath the wind slab. Wind slab depth varied from only a few cm thick to 30-40 cm thick as in our pit.
Decision:
Decided not to ski the full slide and ascended with crampons through wind-scoured areas in order to avoid the wind slab.
