Travelled up to Camp Misery in the Swan Range and then through Picnic Notch and up to the ridgeline going to Mount Aeneas. We were looking to see signs of avalanche activity from the February 3-10 cycle and also to see how strong, widespread and to what elevation the rain crust could be found. In the snowpack we were investigating the sensitivity of the weak layers around the January 19 rain crust.
We observed multiple natural avalanches that occurred during the February 3-10 cycle. They were found at mid and upper elevations on all aspects and were D1 to D2. See photos. We viewed one avalanche on a west aspect in Crown Bowl that appeared to have stepped down from the storm snow layer to a deeper layer. We also observed some point releases that were likely caused by solar radiation but were only in the top inch or two of the snowpack.
The rain crust was supportable at all elevations up to the ridgeline (>7000 feet) and at all aspects. Even with boots, the crust was mostly supportable.
We did find some facets and buried surface hoar above the January 19 crust that is now 2-3 feet below the surface. Our Extended Column Tests yielded no results in either pit and it took hard force with in the compression test to get this layer to fail. We will be most concerned with this layer if and when we can find locations in which the rain crust is weaker.
Sunny and warm. Beautiful day to be in the mountains.
