Galena Peak and Boulder Mtns - glassing and driving after nordic skiing
Quick report
A huge natural avalanche released on Galena Peak (and another large natural) - both NW aspects in alpine terrain. I saw another persistent slab on the Cherry Ck side of the Spring Ck/Cherry Ck divide. Obvious signs of wind-loading and wind-affected surfaces in the Boulder Mtns. There were several fresh, small loose snow avalanches on sun-exposed aspects by 4 PM.
Cracking and collapsing are N/A - we were skiing on groomed trails.Weather
- Air Temp
- 20s
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Obvious evidence of previous wind transport (scallops and dunes on surface, crowns sifting in). Some snow moving on the high peaks in the Boulders but sublimating and no active loading. Light winds at middle elevations, but breezy.
Snowpack
No direct observations.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Type
- U
- Aspect
- NW
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 9800 ft
See photo of Gladiator Ck loose snow and older persistent slab avalanches, and photo of D1.5 fresh loose snow slide between Easley and Boulder Peak. I saw about 15 small D1 loose snow slides on S-SW aspects, mostly on SW, at 4 PM. The one in the photo is one of the larger sluffs I saw.