Grey Butte

Overall, the new snow has bonded very well to the old snow surface.  In areas protected from the wind, no significant signs of instability were found near and below treeline.  In a test pit dug at 7900ft on a NE aspect below the Grey Butte weather station, the height of the storm snow since 02/02 measured 55cm, and the height of snow from the last 24 hours measured 25cm.  7500ft and above, the height of the snowpack was 300-360cm.  Small column tests produced non-planar breaks and resistant planar fractures on density breaks within the recent storm snow.  No propagation occurred during large column tests.  Small wind loaded test slopes did not fail with ski cuts.

Evidence of wind effect and areas of loaded snow were easy to find near treeline.  Cornice features guarded the majority of ridgelines on Grey Butte.  Most of the cornices were small and very stiff.  One small cornice failed with hard ski kicks.  Wind slabs were at least 2ft thick and very stiff - 1F to P in hand hardness.  Boot penetration was 40-60cm, and ski penetration was 5-15cm.  Wind slabs were observed on W, NW, NE aspects.  The wind slabs in the Grey Butte area appear stubborn to trigger.  Any wind slab triggered would be a hard slab and would produce a dangerous avalanche.  Active wind transport of snow was observed.

The new snow is consolidated and moist.  A significant change in snow consistency was observed at the 6500ft level.  Very heavy, moist snow exists near and below this elevation band.  Above, the snow is noticeably drier.