Benzene Alley/ Solomon Gulch
Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
Areas that were experiencing active wind loading had unstable snow present. In protected areas signs of instability were lacking. Near surface facets were identified in snowpits down 45 cms in protected areas although propagation was not present. Slabs above near surface facets in protected areas did not have enough weight or cohesion to be reactive. As soon as the slab above became cohesive due to wind effect, instability was present.
wind loaded slopes were very sensitive on test slopes up to 3 feet in depth with wide propagations.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- 30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Outflow winds were moderate to strong
Snowpack
Significant windslab development was observed. Wind slabs were soft (4 finger) and deep (~3 feet). Long propagations (~200 feet) that were observed on test slopes indicated a faceted weak layer beneath wind slabs. In protected areas 2 feet of uncohesive snow existed on top of the Christmas rain crust.
Avalanche
In wind affected areas deep wind slabs were forming that were very sensitive on test slopes. Small and shallow naturals were observed on steep rolls at low elevation.