Grey Butte NE

Location Name:

NE Aspect Grey Butte 7800'

Region:

Mt. Shasta

Date and time of observation:

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 11:00pm

Observation made by:

Professional Observer

Red Flags:

Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain

Location Map

United States

41° 20' 43.692" N, 122° 11' 42.54" W

See map: Google Maps

Snowpack Observations

Details

A skin track is in from Coyote Butte saddle to weather station.

New snow depth on E and SE slopes of Grey Butte ranges from 44 to 56 cm (17 - 22 inches). A couple of quick CT and ECT tests on these aspects yielded suddenly planar CTV and ECTPV, 44 cm down, just below a weak crust at the new/old (1/1/17) snow interface (see pic). This crust sits atop a 4cm layer of rounded facets. This instability seemed sporadic and was not wide spread throughout these aspects.

New snow depth on a NE aspect of Grey Butte at 7800' was about 60cm (24 inches). CT and ECT tests yielded medium strength failures (CT13, ECTP13) within the new snow on a density break. Secondary CT and ECT tests still yielded failures just below the 12/23 layer (CT 14, ECTN23, sudden collapse). The rounded facets that once occupied this layer have mostly changed to rounded grains. See Test Profile.

New wind loading on Grey Butte is predominantly on N and NE aspects.