Quick report
- Collapsing
- isolated
Multiple D2 wet loose avalanches. Some collapsing on upper elevation south aspects.
Weather
- Air Temp
- mid 20s at the trailhead, got to low 30s at 8000', then 45 at back at the trailhead at 1500
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- n/app
- Recent Snowfall
- none
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Beautiful clear day. Light to moderate wind from the northeast.
Snowpack
We did a few full profiles on south and north aspects.
South aspect snowpack has shrunk down significantly to only about a meter deep. The presidents day crust as well as a few other sun crusts are sitting in the slab in the top portion of the snowpack. No failures or collapses were noted on these layers. There is a decomposing crust, likely remnants of the christmas rain event bured deep in the snowpack with facets above it. We were able to get full propagation on this layer and suspect it was also the culprit for the collapsing we experienced.
On north aspects, we have some lingering weak snow near the ground with a slab above it 1.5 meters thick. We pounded on this layer with tests but could not get a failure. It would be very unlikely for a skier or rider to trigger this.
Overall, although there are some structure concerns in the snowpack, potential for a slab avalanche seemed low with pockets of moderate hazard on south aspects. Wet loose potential will be highly weather dependant and I suspect we will form a very stout crust near the surface tonight.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Type
- WL
- Aspect
- W
Multiple significant wet loose avalanches on west and east aspects. Some are starting to gouge down to the ground as they run their track. This area has minimal due south facing terrain so no south facing avalanches were observed.