Avalanche
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3048 m
We observed numerous spectacular natural avalanches in upper White Pine Canyon today. The most most impressive slides were on NW facing Red Baldy and on the E facing terrain between White Baldy and Lake Peak. The slides were between 3 and 6 feet deep or
more and must have failed in persistent weak layers either near the ground or mid-pack, probably sometime overnight or near daybreak on January 30th.
We also observed a party of two break a skin track directly across the hangfire above the very large crown on low, N facing Red Baldy pictured in Ron Mason's observation from yesterday, and we observed a skier-triggered slide in steep W facing terrain looker's left of the Tri Chutes.
While there is obviously weak snow within the snowpack on many upper elevation shady slopes, we did find impressive HS over 200 cm in a few places. We did not find any pronounced collapsing or cracking altbough we didn't do much trail-breaking.