Hurley Observations

<p>We played pretty safe today while we completed our 2nd day of AST 2 sled specific course. We observed natural loose wet slab avalanches from the drive in all the way up the Hurley FSR. This particular one in the photo I provided was triggered by a sledder who side-hilled the side of the cat track on an east facing slope. The fracture was about 35cm deep (storm snow). It released above the track and may have a connection with the one that released about 10 feet to lookers left of this one (cant see in picture), or that one may have released naturally, we weren't sure. This photo was taken at about 1300m. We observed a natural size 2-3 on a west facing slope off the road in the distance. We did not go higher than 1500m today and played in open flat meadows where the snow was like heavy elephant shmoo. We did a quick column test at about 1400m on an East aspect on the flats with results being CTE4 down 15cm Progressive Compression result, then a CTM12 down 25cm with a resistant planar result. This column test may have not been quite accurate though seeing there may have been previous sled tracks in the area, it was hard to tell with the moisture in the snow and new storm snow. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Convex slopes, Steep slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

Rapid temperature rise to near zero degrees or wet surface snow.

30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Snow Conditions

Heavy, Wet, Deep powder.

Weather Conditions

Wet, Stormy, Windy, Warm, Cloudy.