Depth hoar? - Snowboarding Forum

ETM · 03-10-2012, 04:26 AM

I took this pic in Tokyo's east gardens in early feb this year purely because it fascinated me. It had snowed a few days earlier and there were still patches of snow on the ground as you can see. This particular section had been lifted up by what looked like vertical columns and pushed the snow patch up by at least an inch. I took the pic which is out of focus I know lol and thought nothing of it.

Now I am half way through Bruce Trempers book "Staying alive in avalanche terrain" and it made me think that what I seen in tokyo was hoar of some type. The air was very cold, the ground was obviously warmer, the snow was only 1/4" deep so the temperature gradient could have easily been a few degrees over a 1/4". Pure hoar growing conditions.

Am I tripping out here or is it a great miniature example of depth hoar with a hard slab on top?

**killclimbz** · 03-10-2012, 06:58 AM

Sort of looks like it. Hard to tell, there is so little. I wish that was our depth hoar problem in Colorado...

Depth Hoar is also described as "sugar" snow. It's that very granular, non supportable snow. Almost no bonding what so ever. You'll know it when you find it. It sucks.

ETM · 03-10-2012, 06:27 PM

That last pic is exactly the same thing. Frost heave it is.
Im going to read that book 2 or 3 times before i take my level 1 course later this year, its fascinating.

**killclimbz** · 03-11-2012, 10:45 AM

"Frost Heave". Learn something new everyday...

chupacabraman · 03-11-2012, 11:17 AM

Nice post Snowolf! Sublimation, frost heave... welcome to Canada

03-10-2012, 04:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
ETM Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hokkaido in my mind Posts: 1,350	Depth hoar? I took this pic in Tokyo's east gardens in early feb this year purely because it fascinated me. It had snowed a few days earlier and there were still patches of snow on the ground as you can see. This particular section had been lifted up by what looked like vertical columns and pushed the snow patch up by at least an inch. I took the pic which is out of focus I know lol and thought nothing of it. Now I am half way through Bruce Trempers book "Staying alive in avalanche terrain" and it made me think that what I seen in tokyo was hoar of some type. The air was very cold, the ground was obviously warmer, the snow was only 1/4" deep so the temperature gradient could have easily been a few degrees over a 1/4". Pure hoar growing conditions. Am I tripping out here or is it a great miniature example of depth hoar with a hard slab on top? __________________ Last edited by ETM; 03-10-2012 at 04:29 AM.

03-10-2012, 06:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
ETM Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hokkaido in my mind Posts: 1,350	That last pic is exactly the same thing. Frost heave it is. Im going to read that book 2 or 3 times before i take my level 1 course later this year, its fascinating. __________________

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03-10-2012, 06:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,166	Sort of looks like it. Hard to tell, there is so little. I wish that was our depth hoar problem in Colorado... Depth Hoar is also described as "sugar" snow. It's that very granular, non supportable snow. Almost no bonding what so ever. You'll know it when you find it. It sucks.

03-11-2012, 10:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,166	"Frost Heave". Learn something new everyday...

03-11-2012, 11:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
chupacabraman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Revy Posts: 861	Nice post Snowolf! Sublimation, frost heave... welcome to Canada