Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
Today started cloudy but gradually gave way to partially sunny skies. Snow remained light and not wind affected in shaded and lower elevation terrain, while open terrain presented minor wind affect, shedding, glopping, and roller balls that traveled surprising distances as they grew size but didn't entrain significant snow volume or point release during our descent. Ridgeline travel offered safe opportunities to test N/NE aspects where audible collapsing and evidence of two skier triggered slides validated our decision to avoid steep northerly terrain (see avalanche notes). We enjoyed quality turns on top of the supportive crust layer descending S/SE aspects. After noon, snow was melting rapidly from tree tops and our former skin track. Temperatures in Essex hovered around 40F by 1:30pm when we departed. Maybe winter starts now?
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- NE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 6800 ft
Witnessed 2 skier triggered slab avalanches failing roughly 18" deep on N/NE aspects, both appearing to have released in the last day