Quick report
Clear skies, sunshine, and powder were the conditions today in Essex.
- Air temperature stayed below freezing all day, however the solar input was strong. We observed some small roller balls, minimal shedding of snow off trees, and a slight sun crust forming at our descent at about 3 pm.
- One objective for today was to dig into upper-elevation shaded slopes to investigate the current persistent slab structure.
- The average depth of the recent storm snow was 55 cm. This new snow is settling, but not yet a distinct, cohesive slab.
- We found a "crust complex" comprising varying densities of crust and faceted layers. Please see the snowpack tab for more information.
- In both snow pits, we did not get propagation in our long column tests on north aspects.
- Given the high-pressure weather, we expect steep, sunny slopes to be primed for loose avalanche activity.
Weather
- Air Temp
- Below freezing
- Cloud Cover
- clear
- Wind Loading
- none
- Rain Elevation
- 1000
- Recent Snowfall
- 55 cm at upper elevations
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Beautiful day. No clouds, no wind, and sun all day.
Snowpack
- Snow profile 1: north aspect, 6600 feet
- HS: 156 cm, new snow: 56 cm
- Crust complex: 22 cm (facets-crust-facets-crust layers)
- ECTX, CTN
- Snow profile 2: north aspect, 6800 feet
- HS: 200 cm, new snow 50 cm
- Crust complex: 30 cm (crust-facets-crust-facets layers)
- ECTX, CTN
Avalanche
- Size
- D3 R3
- Type
- HS
- Count
- 2
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 7300 ft
Multiple loose dry avalanches observed on steep slopes in Dickie Creek. Likely occurred earlier in the week.