Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
Near-crust faceting is the weak layer that wind blown/and any lingering snow is failing on. On E, SE, and S aspects above 4900ft the problem is very easy to find, evidenced by shooting cracks and whumpfing. Snow was consolidated, firm, and travel conditions were poor, until we hit 4900ft. At this point the snow transitioned to light and fluffy snow with visible signs of wind transport. We started performing hand shears with incredible result. Clean break shears on 4 hand shear tests performed. 200ft from the ridge, our lead skier triggered a windslab avalanche on the crust interface, there was visible near-crust faceting, making for an incredibly clean break and fast running avalanche.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 28
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- 4700ft
- Recent Snowfall
- 18cms
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Snowpack
Snowpack changes from firm consolidated snow to a crust with near faceting and fresh/windblown snow at 4900ft and above.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R4
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 5400 ft
2025/01/11. 1310. Upper Kendall Lakes. SE/E. 33degrees. 5400ft. HS, AS. D2. I. Near crust faceting. 1F. 2025/11/10. 60 meters wide. 40cms thick. Slab was 4f hardness. 40 meter fall.