Avalanche Rescue Training

Snowpit Analysis

Reading Snow

Hoar frost, or surface hoar, forms delicate, feather-like ice crystals on the snow surface during cold, calm, and clear nights. When this weak, loose layer is buried by subsequent snowstorms, it acts as a very dangerous, persistent lubricating layer, often causing large, unexpected slab avalanches that can persist for weeks. 

The Snow we examined on Steven's Pass and Snoqualmie Pass this weekend had several unstable layers.