Quick report
10-12 inches of heavy snow fell overnight and settled the storm snow from the last several days into a relatively cohesive storm slab. In a few hand pits there were layers of graupel down 10-12 inches that abbreviated the cohesive storm snow and produced moderate hand shear results. There was wind loading lee to ridgecrests but no cracking was observed. Multiple natural avalanches were observed on east and west slopes. Today’s observations of yesterday’s Simmons ridge avalanche showed that it had slid on a faceted persistent layer down 80cm. The facets were 2mm and were beginning to round and there was not a crust above or below them. Crown height varied from 2-3 feet and the length was between 1000 and 1500 feet.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- 4800’
- Recent Snowfall
- 30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Warm and wet. Mostly calm with light SSW winds. Most of the snow fell before 10am but showers continued through the day.
Avalanche
Multiple natural loose wet avalanches size D1, one loose wet D2. All on west aspects between 6000 and 5000 feet in an are called the shooting gallery. Also saw multiple natural D2 slab avalanches on east aspects between 6600 and 5600 feet on lower Simmons ridge. We were unable to tell if these slab avalanches were storm slab or if they had stepped to the persistent slab. Judging by crown height and similarities to yesterday’s persistent slab avalanche on Simmons ridge, these were likely persistent slabs.