Valanga

Wing Ridge

Caleb MerrillNorthern Wallowas
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Quick report

Cracking
specific

Our main objective was to try to find some powder skiing that was unaffected by the wind.  Much of the terrain at Salt Creek Summit was being raked over by the winds.  Sheltered East and North aspects were holding nice settled powder.  We intentionally triggered numerous wind slabs on test slopes and saw one D1 natural windslab along South Ridge.   Shooting cracks were observed near ridgelines.    

One natural D1 Windslab noted along South Ridge. It failed just under a cornice and ran about 100'. We intentionally triggered numerous D1 Windslabs along the ridgeline. Shooting cracks were common in the wind stiffened snow.

Weather

Air Temp
25
Cloud Cover
scattered
Wind Loading
moderate
Recent Snowfall
10
Snow Avail For Transport
large amounts

Winds were moderate to strong out of the South, SE, and SW. Temperatures in the mid 20's.

Snowpack

The new snow above the February crust seemed to be bonding quite well and was right-side up.  We noted a melt-freeze crust from Monday that was about 20 cm from the surface.   Stability in areas out of the wind seemed to be quite good.  Plenty of wind-transported snow was sensitive along exposed terrain features and ridgelines.   

Avalanche

Size
D1
Type
HS
Aspect
N
Trigger
N
Elevation
8000 ft

Several D1 human-triggered wind slab avalanches failed below corniced ridgelines on test slopes.