Tsugaike recon and snow profiles

12 Dec 07

Today I spent more time in recon behind Tsugaike.

It was a good chance to check out some short lines in easy angle trees. You could do multiple laps in a casual day. Better yet, I was able to dig a snow profile on a south face and then jump 10 meter up and over the sharp ridge onto the opposing north face. Understandably two very different snow packs. It was nice up there, above the clouds some of the time and in the sun.

From what I saw, generally northern aspects are more wind loaded than generally southern aspects, with mild cornicing on northerly ridges.

The two comparative N and S Tsugaike test profiles are here, both dated 071212

Later in the (rather warm and sunny) early afternoon I was able to ski-cut 15cm deep very wet slabs off 30 degree south aspects. Note that the scale was very small: small sliding slabs the size of a car moving downhill for a only few meters. This dense wet layer comprising the new snow of the last 24 hours (HN24) was sliding easily on the crust upon which it fell. Nothing serious, but increase the slope angle and slab depth and you would have a more serious situation produced my noticeably warm conditions on solar aspects.

Easy trees, very wet snow.

Part of the three peaks from the north

In, below and above the clouds

Norikura area