New Weak Layer in the Taylor Fork

New Weak Layer in the Taylor Fork

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

We rode into the weather station, across to the Wilderness Boundary, along the ridgeline to the Beaver Slide, and back. We saw one new wind-slab avalanche in Sunlight Basin. It was small. From a distance, it appeared to be about 6" deep and 30' across (R1-D1). The other notable avalanche activity was a full-depth wet slab avalanche that broke last week during the warm-up on Lightning Ridge. 

We dug a 150 cm deep pit at the Wilderness Boundary. The basal facets and depth hoar were moist. The upper-level melt-freeze crusts were so thick and hard that even with a saw assist, we could not isolate the column to the ground. There were two newish near-surface facet layers in the upper 10" of the snowpack. No hazard now, but they will be something to watch when loaded. 

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Taylor Fork
Observer Name
David Zinn