Brush Creek

There was widespread natural avalanche activity during the storm on north through east aspects near and below treeline in this area. Few intact steep slopes were left after the storm, which made the overall avalanche hazard less worrisome, but the snowpack on intact slopes remains dangerous. The relentless collapsing and cracking on lower-angled slopes made it clear that any intact steep slope would be dangerous and likely produce a human-triggered avalanche.

Settled Thanksgiving storm totals were around 2 feet in this area.  The slab is mostly fist hard, increasing to 4-finger hard with a small amount of 1-finger hardness right at the bottom of the slab (see profile).  We continually produced collapses and shooting cracks.  Most slopes steeper than 35 degrees naturally avalanched, so there were fewer dangerous slopes in that area due to the previous avalanche activity.  Near ridgetop winds had drifted over old crowns and may have reloaded some paths with a new slab after the original avalanche.  Sheltered areas had less than a foot of soft refill since the avalanche cycle and did not appear to pose a threat.