Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
Marias pass went from champagne powder to Pacific Northwest mashed potatoes overnight Friday. We experienced a breakable, shin-bruising rain crust at the valley bottom which at 6000 feet gave way to very moist surface snow, temps around 35 degrees, and tons of skin-clumping, difficult uphill travel. We dug a pit at approximately 6800’ in a north east facing slope. The top meter of snow was relatively cohesive soft slab and the bottom 60 centimeters was garbage facets. We expected terrible pit results but did not get any full propagation. Just 50 yards away on a south aspect, the entire slope collapsed audibly, and we got several shooting cracks. There was evidence of a previous northeast wind event, drifting snow on atypical aspects, and on the ridge top we heard multiple large audible collapses in wind drifts. One was significant and felt by our entire party. Skiing left much to be desired and one in the group commented that this was “ACL” snow. On the ski out, freezing rain gave way to actual rain and tree bombs and roller balls were plentiful below 6,200’. The amount of rain was surprising. Rain mixed with low tide conditions made for a spicy exit. Gore Tex was tested as we were all soaked when we got back to the sleds.
Avalanche
Some small D1 slide on S aspects. Likely from cross loading during the last storm.