Quick report
We rode up towards Ramshorn to determine how winds and temperature were behaving. Winds were moderate gusting into the strong category at ridgetop elevations. Lots of snow has been moved around over the past 48 hrs with signs of wind-affected snow down to 8000'. Cornices were large, and there was evidence of multiple recent natural cornice failures. One cornice failure triggered a larger slab avalanche below (see attached avalanche). Temperatures remained cold at upper elevations, most likely due to wind. Lower down below 8500', snow was becoming wet and creating roller balls off cliffs on southerly aspects. Even lower around 7400' we noticed a couple of small point-release wet loose slides originating from cliff bands above.
HS at 9000' North: 215cm.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Moderate to strong winds above 9500' out of the west. Partly sunny skies with fast-moving clouds at high elevations. Temperatures up high remained cool, with lower elevation temperatures above freezing.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2.5 R2
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 9800 ft
This avalanche was most likely triggered by a natural cornice fall. It was difficult to determine how long ago this avalanche occurred, Based on comparing snow transported by winds and temperatures, it's likely the avalanche is around two days old.