We skied up the W ridge of Rohr last Friday and down the south side on slide path 69.2 traversing into the chute from the W at a lower elevation than the start zone. The important theme of the day was intense radiation; some minor loose snow avalanches were observed from under rocky features on solar aspects. Moist snow on most terrain over 30 degrees on these aspects will be crusty tomorrow. Better quality skiing was found on less steep terrain but the snow had absorbed much heat and below 5000' formed a 1 cm crust from the warm temperatures.
A profile at about 6900' near ridgeline (HS = 250) on a SSW aspect showed relatively ugly snowpack characteristics with 2 crust/facet interfaces, one down 65 cm and another down 100 cm. The faceted layers although not thick are low density and weak. Tests however produced results in the moderate-hard range including a Rutschblock 5 on the interface down 65, all shears being resistant planar or sticky. No results on the 1 cm rc down 100. Ski cutting steep features produced no results.
Tim Pochay
MG
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