This pit was dug on a northwest facing slope at 8,750' in Lionhead. A dense, six foot thick pencil hardness slab is being supported by fist hardness depth hoar. I scooped out some in my hand. The column broke on this layer and I was able to lay the pillar, intact, outside the snowpit. The deeper the depth hoar gets buried, the more difficult it becomes to trigger. But if you get unlucky and trigger it the avalanche will be large, destructive and deadly. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 2, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Tue Apr 3, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Apr 4, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Apr 5, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Apr 6, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Apr 7, 2012GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sun Apr 8, 2012