On Monday January 19, I patrolled the Snowy Range backcountry trails at
the request of Alice. The Equality Day Patrol Log follows:

Spoke with Alice and Margaret at the Visitor Center. Alice gave me a
ride to Green Rock Picnic Ground so that I could ski down the Barber
Lake trail and end up at the Corner Mountain Trailhead.  Stopped near
the snow stake (40 inches depth) for lunch and to dig a snow pit.
According to Alice, 17 inches of snow fell during the last storm on
Saturday.
        
The new snow allowed me to ski as fast or slow as I felt comfortable.
In the tracks, the packed snow made for fast skiing. Met two skiers on
the lower Barber Lake Trail.
        
The new snow made parking and travel at the end of the road difficult.
It was hard for cars/trucks to get in or out. Also, the amount of snow
on the road made it a one-lane road near Green Rock Picnic Ground.

Weather: Sunny to cloudy, gusts to 15-20 mph.
Temperature: 30 degrees F at 12:45 p.m.
Snow pit slope: 15 degrees.
Snow pit aspect: south
Location: Centennial 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle, NW1/4, NE 1/4,
section 24, T.16N., R.79W.
Elevation: 10,040 feet (Casio Watch).

SNOW PIT
New snow, 0-43 cm, -3 degrees C at 0 cm, 4F-3F hardness.  Hardness
increases with depth in first layer. Metamorphosed snow crystals at very
top and rounded, sintered grains. -6 degrees C at 26 cm.

Ice layer, 43-44 cm, -3 degrees C.
Rounded grains, 44-47 cm.
Ice layer, 47-48 cm.
Rounded grains, 48-52 cm.
Ice Layer, 52-60 cm.

Depth Hoar and logs, 60-110 cm+, -3 degrees C at 63 cm and 110 cm. 2-4
mm well-faceted crystals.

STABILITY TEST
Rutschblock. Snow failed at 15 and 30 cm when I jumped. Do not think
that it is an accurate test of stability because of the number of logs
towards the base of the snow pit.

VEHICLE COUNT
Barber Lake: 1 at noon; 0 at 3:30 p.m.
Corner Mtn: 6 at noon, 5 at 3:30 p.m.
Lot above Ski Area: 6 at noon, 3 at 3:30 p.m.
End of Road:68 at noon, 30 at 3:30 p.m.