Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 61 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Vertical Fall
- 30 m
- Avalanche Type
- Hard Slab
- Start Zone Aspect
- East
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2957 m
I observed several natural avalanches today on the Skyline. Deteriorating conditions prevented me from taking clear photos as visibility dropped, and I'm sure there were many more slides to be seen had the cloud cover been lifted. The entire north face of Lineer Ridge/GE Hill appeared to have slid sometime during the cycle. Small sluffs and mini avalanches were observed on steep, convex surfaces, and in areas where snow stability is rarely a question. Signs of instability were conspicuously present as low as 7,800 feet. Loud, distinct "whoomping" noises were heard as we traveled across short, steep test slopes. Deep glide cracks were observed on several slopes; the one we investigated was as deep as the faceted layer on the ground. The photo below shows a ski pole inserted into a glide crack to a depth of over 130 cm (i.e. the total depth of the snowpack). A spooky day on the Skyline. It was again snowing and 2-3 new inches had accumulated by 5:30 PM, with the storm steadily intensifying.