Crystal Point

Quick report

- Observed one natural slab avalanche today (see avalanche tab). Visibility was ok starting around 2:30 pm that allowed flat light views of peaks surronding Upper McDonald Valley and along the Garden Wall. - 20 cm of new snow at 5000 ft. and 30 cm at 6000 ft. 12-15 cm at road level (~4300 feet). New snow sits atop a 10+ cm thick melt freeze crust. Crust was relatively soft (P-) near the top due to recent rain. -Found small facets at new/old snow interface. -New snow was heavy and becoming wet below 5500 ft. around 2:00 pm. -On steep rollovers, this heavy snow moved easily on the underlying melt-freeze crust. But no cracking. -Sunny and warm temperatures this weekend combined with this recent snow will increase avalanche hazard in this zone.

Avalanche

Size

D2.5

Aspect

N

Trigger

N

Elevation

6700 ft

I viewed this from across the valley. I estimate it to be a soft slab in wind loaded terrain. However, given the relatively wide propagation, it probably released at the old/new snow interface. So, technically still a storm slab problem but in wind loaded terrain. :) At Crystal Point, I found near surface facets (melt layer recrystallization) on top of the crust and below the new snow. So, perhaps this was the failure layer.