Quick report
- Aspect
- Northeast
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches
- Elevation
- 2713 m
- Slope Angle
- 39°
This snowpit was dug in a nearby location to a rider triggered avalanche that Corey and I came across on January 8th. This time the snowpack was much deeper 8' compared to the 3' of snow we saw last time. The weak layers near the ground were rounding facets and our layer of primary concern this time was instabilities within the newest snow. As we descended we also lost some snow height and the hand hardness of the midpack was softer ( as there was less wind-drifted snow).
Height of snow-northeast aspect-8300' -5' (155cm)
Height of snow- east aspect-6700' -4' (125cm) with a very stiff rain crust underneath the newest snow
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>We noted a skier triggered soft slab avalanche that failed on small grain facets above a crust on a southeast aspect at 7700'. This avalanche was 50' wide x 14-16" deep and ran 250' putting a pile of debris into the gully that would have been deep to bury a backcountry traveler. These avalanches failing on a PWL (faceted layer) that was preserved with the last storm is a tricky layer and these avalanches may stick around for up to a week-ten days and are big enough to catch and carry an unsuspecting traveler. We had an event that is feeling similar to this on primarily southeast aspects last season that lasted for eight days. You can read more about last year's RR event <a href="https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/ISSW2023_O11.03.pdf">HERE</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p>Below photo of skier triggered avalanche in the Toilet Bowl area of Hells Canyon. </p> <p> </p>
Reports of 24" snow and 2.43" of water since February 14th. The snow surface was cold graupel snow and made for supportable skiing. The solar aspects were starting to take some solar energy and were warming up around noon. Small grained surface facets and surface hoar noted up to 6800' that may get broken down before it gets preserved.