Snowpack observations from Jakes Peak

On Jakes Peak 1-2 inches of soft unconsolidated recent snow rests above a firm frozen crust on slopes below 7600 ft. Above this elevation recent snow amounts increased to 4-7 inches with the most snow on the sheltered N-NE aspects between 8000 and 9000 ft. The density change that formed during the recent snowfall still exists in the recent snow in the areas where more there is more than 4 inches of recent snow. Above 7600 ft the rain crust below the recent snow became thinner and more variable. Below this crust a thin layer of weak sugary snow remains. Tests on both the density change within the recent snow and on the weak layer below the crust showed that fracture propagation is unlikely in either of these layers in areas where no wind slabs exist.

Near and above treeline small wind slabs did exist on NW aspects, sheltered N and NE aspects, and on the SW and S aspects. Some skier triggered cracking did occur on these wind slabs. In this area no wind slabs larger than 4-8 inches deep extending 5-15 ft downhill were observed. On exposed above treeline N-NE aspects the NE winds had scoured the recent snow away leaving behind a firm crust.

Photo 1: One of the small wind slabs on a sheltered NW facing test slope.

Video 1: @ 9000 ft on a NE aspect: PST 99/100 END on the denisty change within the recent snow and PST 95/100 END on the facets below the crust.

Video 2: @ 9000 ft on a NE aspect: ECTN's testing the density change and the facets below the crust.