Tahoe National Forest Sierra Avalanche Center

Pit dug at treeline to look at the Dec 12 rain crust.

Quick test pit to look at bonding of new snow to old snow and facets above the Dec. 12 rain crust.

Pit dug in near treeline terrain, just far enough down from ridgetop to get away from previous wind slabs.

Crown profile on approx 30 hr old hard wind slab natural avalanche. Avalanche occurred at treeline. Pit dug on far climber's left end of crown. ECTP failed 11 cm deeper into the weak layer than the avalanche bed surface. I interpreted this to mean that the hard slab is bonding to the weak layer. 2mECT scored 2mECTN breaking 70cm across the 2m column.

Pit dug in open, below treeline terrain.

Pit dug in open below treeline terrain with protection from SW winds.

2 test pits at different elevations to monitor the Dec 12 rain crust. At this point, no concerning snowpack test results on this layer.

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.