Bollettino valanghe

San Francisco Peaks / Kachina Peaks Wilderness

Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sun
Alta quota
1 · Debole
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 2 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

Low Danger does not mean no danger. Although unlikely it may still be possible for a skier or rider to trigger a large persistent slab avalanche on steep terrain near and above treeline on north slopes.  These avalanches can release without warning and would probably be triggered in shallow areas where basal facets are susceptible to the weight of a skier or rider.  

Problemi valanghivi

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Unlikely
    Dimensione
    1.5–2

    The weak layers and basal facets in or near the bottom of the snowpack are still present, in some areas.  On more solar aspects, they are starting to round, and in other, more northerly aspects, they continue to grow. This basal weak layer caused some of the larger slides in the avalanche cycle more than three weeks ago.  An avalanche of this type is most likely to be triggered on steep north facing slopes in areas of thinner snowpack.  Although it is unlikely that a skier or rider will trigger this type of avalanche, if they did, the avalanche could be large and easily cause a full burial. 

    Crown in Silverton path. 

    Photo: Paul Dawson

Avalanche Discussion

Most stability tests and observations show that the snowpack has become increasingly stable and that, overall, the avalanche hazard has decreased. It is challenging to determine the continuity of this problem. We have removed the persistent slab problem from east and west aspects but basal facets remain on those aspects. Propagation has not been reported in snow pits in those aspects but any additonal new load by new or wind blown snow could reinvigorator these layers.  It may be that in some locations, it lacks the consistency to trigger an avalanche, and in others, it may be dormant but could resurrect given another large storm.  And, of course, finally, in some locations, especially steep and rocky zones, there is the chance that it could still be triggered by a skier or rider.   Again, this represents the classic low probability but high consequence scenario.

Hold onto your hats. It's going to be a windy day. Ski or splitboard crampons are recommended. Melt freeze is in effect on solar aspects at lower elevations. The winds have removed snow from high elevation areas on the exterior of our old stratovolcano, as seen in the Allison Clay photo below. However in the sunken caldera coverage remains, as seen in the cirque photos.

Avalanches continue to be found from our last big storm cycle. For recent observations, click here.  

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