Weak layers in the snowpack - Taylor Fork

Weak layers in the snowpack - Taylor Fork

SE aspect at about 9200 feet in the Taylor Fork area of the Southern Madison Range. Weak layers are evident in this photo and they were easily found when digging this snowpack. We found a very thin layer of facets above an ice crust about 1.5 feet deep. This layer formed more recently and shouldn't last too long, nor does it exist on many slopes. A bigger issue are the December facets near the ground. We were surprised how easily these broke in stability tests (profile). Photo: GNFAC

Southern Madison, 2014-03-14