Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
The avalanche hazard varied from considerable to high depending on where you were. The new snow that fell since 12/27 was poorly bonded to old snow surfaces above 9000'. We observed wind and storm slab problems that were all easy to trigger (both remote and skier triggered in various locations). In areas that were protected from the wind and at elevations below 9000' snow seemed more well bonded to old snow surfaces; however, we still found pockets of instability. We experienced a touchy snowpack today. Numerous remote and skier triggered avalanches with large propagation (100-200') around 9000'-9400' on E-SE-S aspects. We also observed numerous smaller (D.5-D1) skier triggered avalanches in wind loaded and steep terrain between 8000'-9000' on E & NE aspects. We observed isolated cracking within the new snow as well. All observed avalanches and instabilities appeared to have occurred on the new snow/old snow interface with crowns ranging from 4"-8".
Weather
- Air Temp
- 23
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 12
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Light to moderate snowfall throughout the day. Wind was strong at the summit blowing in the 20's and gusting into the 40's at times out of the WSW. Winds were actively transporting snow and loading leeward terrain. Winds at mid and low elevations was much less (10, gusting 20 at Raymer). Temps were also mild at the base in the low 30's.
Snowpack
No stability test performed. New snow still needs time to bond in most locations, especially mid & upper elevations.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5 R2
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 3
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 9300 ft
The 3 major incidents were on S-SE-E facing terrain all around 9300'. All very similar; touchy new snow with large propagation and/or sympathetic adjacent avalanches occurring. Other observations were numerous D.5-D1 pockets in steep and wind loaded areas below 9000'.