Quick report
• There was a widespread cycle of small soft slabs failing in the new snow last night. These were generally small, destructive size 1-1.5 of 5 (D1-1.5) but noted some debris piles nearing D2 size. • Some notable avalanche activity above the rail included: o A couple D2 size debris piles in Path 1163 that ran about half path, terminating well above the grade. o A crown in Shed 7 West that may be pushing D2 size. Recent snow had covered up much of the evidence. Debris terminated up in the lower start zone well above the rail. o Multiple small crowns (D1s) in Shed 4D, Path 1164 and other similar steep cut banks. • Outside the Program Area on the nearby east face of Mt. Shields it appeared that a larger, hard slab may have failed on an older layer of snow buried deeper in the snowpack (photo). • Also observed some D1 to possibly D2 size crowns in the Cascadilla drainage. • Snowfall totals on the Canyon floor for the Jan. 17th storm ranged from 13-17” with 0.70-0.90” snow water equivalent. • Weather stations above 6000’ are reporting snowfall storm totals of 12-21”.
Weather
• Snowfall and winds both died down around midnight last night. • Morning dawned with clear skies and calm or light easterly winds on the Canyon floor and light to moderate NE winds at ridgetop elevations • Temperatures warming to the single digits °F on the Canyon floor by the afternoon.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 3
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 6500 ft
At least a couple D1.5-2 size debris piles about halfway down the track. New snow had re-filled the crowns.