Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 45°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 61 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Natural
- Vertical Fall
- 244 m
- Avalanche Type
- Wet Loose
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- Southeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Wet Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2438 m
We observed a handful of recent wet loose avalanches on very steep south and southeast facing slopes that were started by snow falling off rock bands and cliffs and ended up traveling pretty far, entraining saturated surface snow. Not sure about the timing, perhaps a couple could have as recently as earlier today, more likely most were caused by the warm temperatures last weekend.
The snow was more stable on slopes facing the north half of the compass, but winds from earlier in the week have messed with the recrystallized powder in the Pine Canyon area, and we encountered highly variable surface snow conditions.
A likely poor refreeze tonight and exceptionally warm temperatures forecast for tomorrow will cause natural wet loose avalanches to become likely on many slopes. And the snow in sunny terrain will soften and become unstable much earlier than it did today.