Thank you and I am glad the information I provided will help someone. I will update the post with the results from my one snow pit. Really the trend I saw the entire time was ice/crust layers, faceted sugar snow, then crust layers. Some were smaller in between with rock solid layers beneath whereas others were weak layer upon weak layer. The couloir leading north out of Burns Gulch and into American Basin was most definitely unstable and I heard it groaning as I was down-climbing after nightfall. My thought was the double-direction cornice at the top indicated windpacked, scoured snow on both sides with then wind-loading occurring on top. It was a scary situation, but I was able to quickly (fastest I ever moved that day) off my planned route and over to the rocks. I'll post more exact, numerical results a bit later today. I hope this helped!
DynafitD - Feb 16, 2011 11:34 am - Hasn't voted
Snowpack DiscussionThank you and I am glad the information I provided will help someone. I will update the post with the results from my one snow pit. Really the trend I saw the entire time was ice/crust layers, faceted sugar snow, then crust layers. Some were smaller in between with rock solid layers beneath whereas others were weak layer upon weak layer. The couloir leading north out of Burns Gulch and into American Basin was most definitely unstable and I heard it groaning as I was down-climbing after nightfall. My thought was the double-direction cornice at the top indicated windpacked, scoured snow on both sides with then wind-loading occurring on top. It was a scary situation, but I was able to quickly (fastest I ever moved that day) off my planned route and over to the rocks. I'll post more exact, numerical results a bit later today. I hope this helped!
DynafitD - Feb 16, 2011 6:55 pm - Hasn't voted
Snow Discussion UpdatedI have updated the post with all the information and observations from my snow pit and observations. Thanks again!