Marion Lake Observation

Due to a substantial surface rain crust, I chose Marion due to trail access and Essex being favored with overnight snowfall.

• A near-surface rain crust varied from 1/2" thick and breakable at the trailhead (3800') to 6" thick and supportable at 6200'. This crust formed 2/8/18 and was not present above 6200'.
• 7" of low-density (5%) snow covered the crust at the trailhead with 10"+ at 6200' and 14" of new snow at 6800'.
• Numerous piles of wet debris observed on the valley floor in Marion Creek and surrounding drainages from the 2/8/18 rain event.
• One recent D1.5 slab avalanche noted in the Marion drainage at 6300'
• Snowpit on a south aspect at 5900' revealed a surprisingly deep (265 cm) snowpack. Stability tests revealed no results due to the strong 4" thick rain crust that was bridging the snow below.
• Snowpit on a south aspect at 6700' was 305 cm deep. Stability tests resulted in several failures in the upper pack in CT but no propagation. Failures were associated with density changes and several layers of graupel.
• No obvious signs of instability noted except for localized cracking underfoot due to the near-surface graupel layer at low and mid elevations.