Pilots Peak
Quick report
- Collapsing
- specific
Avalanche! For good recreation stick to sub-32degree slopes angles and aim for sun-protected slopes. The same shading that makes for good skiing also protected surface hoar that is now buried and risky. Watch out for rollovers at the tops and bottoms of slopes. We did not see the avalanche occur, but it is consistent with a previously reported avalanche. North aspect mid 30-deg slope failing large enough to be concerning. There are a number of snowmobile tracks on the edges of the previously reported avalanche and a number of tracks below today's observed avalanche, and active snowmobile activity below a slope with plenty of sensitive snow above. Lower elevations have solar considerations and boot-packing below 6k feet due to very thin and wet snow. Carry skin wax and expect variable snow conditions (alongside some fun recreating in sheltered terrain). Saw aftermath of a D1 avalanche below snowpit on North aspect. Significant woomphing at the top of the Pilots Peak area when moving over into the more sheltered northern slopes. Multiple woomphs throughout our tour of the top area.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 31
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Clear warm day with some light to moderate wind depending on elevation. No snow moving due to the wind. Warmed up for sure, but winter still exists on high elevation north slopes.
Snowpack
Recent storm snow (40cm) buried previous drought surface hoar, which is the weak layer. Surface hoar is a mixture of ~5mm plates and more decomposed smaller particles. It is still enough to be weak and fragile. CT and ECT both failed around 11 taps and had propogation in this layer. This is the bed surface for neighboring avalanches. Below lies faceting round grains down to ~100cm, where deeper facets around an ice crust present a second weak layer. Deeper testing was also able to get this layer to fail and was able to pull this block off. While deep and less sensitive it is a step-down avalanche risk. HS 160cm CT11 Q1 40cm Down ECT11 Q1 SP (broke fairly easily at the start of elbow taps and propogated across the 90cm wide column, consistent with surrounding woomphing). https://snowpilot.org/node/81293
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R2
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- N
- Elevation
- 7750 ft
Fairly isolated avalanche at the same depth, aspect, elevation and slope angle as the previously reported avalanche. Crown broke partway down the slope. Unsure exact slope angle. Debris stopped somewhat by a tree and seemed bounded. Unsure how far it traveled due to roll-over.