New wind slabs and new snow on Lincoln Ridge

2-3 inches of snow fell overnight in the Lincoln Ridge area. Snowfall intensity increased today and an additional 3-4 inches accumulated by 1pm. On the northerly aspects, this new snow rested on top of a mix of old near surface facets, thin breakable melt freeze crusts, and older supportable rain crusts. The new snow had not overloaded these older snow surfaces by 1pm today. Within the new snow a change in density between the snow that fell last night and the snow that continues to fall today was reactive to tests and ski cuts. Multiple skier triggered shooting cracks and some small test slope failures occurred due to a failure at this density change. Only 3-4 inches of snow existed above this weak interface in most areas. On one heavily wind loaded test slope, the soft slab above this density change measured about 8 inches deep.

Photo 1: Snowpack stratigraphy on a wind loaded NE facing test slope at 7760 ft. This photos shows the various interfaces and weak layers in the upper portion of the snowpack.

Photo 2: Skier triggered cracks on a NE facing wind loaded test slope at about 7800 ft.

Photo 3: Skier triggered test slope failure on a NNE facing, 39-42 degree wind loaded test slope at about 7760 ft.

Photo 4: The other side of the test slope pictured in photo 3. At the point where the most wind loading had occurred the soft slab had reached about 8 inches in depth.