14 March 1998, 6:45 am - 4:00 pm, Snowy Range.  Help set up the field day 
for the Basic Avalanche course and completed a make-up day for the Advanced 
Avalanche course.


                       SNOWPIT DATA

Observer:               Myron Allen
Date and Time:          11:30 am 14 March 1998
Location:               Hillside N. of Little Swastika Lake
Elevation:              9840 feet
Surface Roughness:      Smooth
Aspect:                 North facing, sunny
Incline:                26 degrees
Sky:                    Clear
Precipitation:          None
Wind:                   Calm
Surface snow:           Melting powder
Foot penetration:       Crotch

===============================================================================
H (cm)  R        F         D (mm)  W   Shovel    Comment          H (cm)  T (C)
===============================================================================
                                                                  Air       2
 0                                                                  0       0
       FIST    Rounded   < 1      moist                            10     - 4
                                                                   20     - 4
 22                                                   
                                                                   30     - 5
       4F      Rounded   < 1      dry                              40     - 4
50                                                                 50     - 4
       FIST    Rounded   < 1      dry
58
       4F      Faceted     1      dry                              60     - 3
                                                                   70     - 3
71
       FIST    Faceted   > 1      dry                              80     - 2
                                                                   90     - 2
                                                                  100     - 2
                                                                  110     - 1
===============================================================================

Remarks:  Large, faceted depth hoar crystals persist deep in the snowpack.
However, there is a thick column of relatively coherent slab above it, and
the depth hoar layer itself appears to be developing some coherence. Caution
is still advisable on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.  Sun crusting during
this period may cause poor adherence to subsequently deposited layers.


15 March 1998, 8:15 am - 3:00 pm, Snowy Range.  Substituted for Jerry
Hamann.  Skied the North Fork trail with Vern Bentley of the Forest Service
and 7 others, including patroller Tim Gilbert.  Discussed the prospects
for marking the route as a formal backcountry ski trail.  Bentley seemed
favorable to the basic idea; there are details to be worked out.