Tamarack Zone

We did a short, late afternoon tour in the Tamarack Peak zone.  Lots of cars in the parking area at 2p. We were in a storm day assessment mindset and stuck to simple low angle terrain in the trees. 

A pretty consistent 40+ cm of super soft new snow throughout the area.  Numerous mitt pits and pole probes on our climb showed low density unconsolidated snow on top of a hard base as expected.  We did not feel any consolidated slab areas, see any significant cracking, or hear any wumphing or any other signs of instability.

Winds were consistent light to moderate out of the NE but were not really a factor yet in this zone on this exposure.

We dug a quick pit in a somewhat wind exposed area below the ridge on a N facing slope just below 9200’.  There was approximately 200cm total snow with 43cm Fist minus new snow on top of a reletively soft 1Finger Plus bed surface.  There were very few signs of any density changes or layering within the new snow.  ECTX x 2, the first ten wrist taps and we were already through the new snow and down to the base layer  with the shovel.

We skied the slope and saw no additional signs of instability.  The light new snow was hiding lots of stumps and snags, and it would be easy to catch a ski or dive a tip. 

On our return to the truck, more exposed south facing slopes had a rock hard base layer, drifted and scoured snow, and generally poor conditions. No obvious slab formation or cracking, but lots of barely covered rocks and ice.