Bulletin d’avalanche

San Francisco Peaks / Kachina Peaks Wilderness

Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sat
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
1 · Faible
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 4 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

At elevations near and above treeline human triggered avalanches are possible, particularly in wind loaded areas.  Use caution on steep slopes, especially at the top of gullies and chutes where large windloaded deposits are accumulating.  The recent storm has cross loaded numerous terrain features.  Even small wind slab avalanches above terrain features could have dire consequences--anyone carried in a slide is likely to colide with rocks and possibly downed trees buried just below the snow surface.  These obstacles are barely covered by the recent storm; thus, access and egress issues remain a serious hazard.  Be observent of cracking and whumpfing , both obvious signs of instability.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–1.5

    The current storm cycle, which began December 28th, has delivered between 18 and 25 inches of higher density snow across the Kachina Peaks.  Much of this higher density snow has been redistributed onto the leeward side of ridges and cross-loaded into gullies.  The high country is a mix of snow-covered rocks and loaded gullies.  Travel in this terrain is tricky, but isolated pockets of snow 1-2 meters deep exist in wind deposited areas.  The weight of a single individual in these areas could trigger small wind slab avalanches that could carry a skier or rider into consequential terrain.  

    (12/30/2022)

    12/30 from upper bowl

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Large basal facets have developed at the base of the snowpack particularly on NW to E aspects.  Although this layer may not be contiguous, it has the potential to result in larger sized avalanches sliding at ground level.  As more snow is loaded onto these areas the likelihood of a persistent slab avalanche increases.  Use caution if skiing or riding north and east terrain consisting of long contiguous snow covered slopes.  Collapsing and whumpfing have been observed at this weakness.  

    (12/29/2022)

    NW slope at 10800. Trees on skiier left of Allison Clay Bowl/Runout. 

    SnowPilot Courtesy of Troy Marino and Mike Farrell

Régions couvertes