Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center

2 test pits in this area at different elevations to look at the Dec 12 rain crust and near surface faceting.

Testpit dug to look at surface wind slab and buried Dec 12 rain crust. No sign of faceting above or below rain crust. Pit dug along summit ridge in open terrain.

Pit dug in crown of snowboard triggered avalanche that occurred midday on Dec 9. Site visit Dec 10. Below to near treeline, open, complex terrain. All CT and ECT failures on top of weak layer at 126cm. One PST run above the crust and the other PST run below the crust.

Looking for buried SH: Shaded aspect near a meadow and sheltered from wind, with new SH at the surface

Test pit to look at buried surface hoar. Easy to id in pit wall and was consistent throughout this whole area on size and reactivity.

Quick test pit to look at storm snow. A non consistent layer of buried surface hoar found in protected open area in below treeline terrain. V reactive to snowpack tests but showed no other signs of instability. RP results with CT's and ECT's propagate, but were also resistant to coming off block.

Pit dug in open area below treeline

Pit dug at treeline.

The 0-11 facet layer is thought to be from early season snow from November at this location. Most of this snow has been destroyed by multiple NE wind events and warming. In isolated below treeline areas this layer exists, but is very thin and not thought to be a future problem.