Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- specific
Throughout our tour, we observed multiple signs of instability, including intentionally triggered avalanches. Snowplows triggered small slides, along with a small natural avalanche. The slab exhibited a density change, possibly due to graupel near the start of the storm, where snow pit failures were occurring. Surprisingly, failures were less frequent on the new/old (1/31) interface of facets, though some test slopes did fail at this layer. Where less wind-affected, the slab does not appear consolidated enough to fail consistently on the facets. We experienced cracking and collapsing on both south and north facing slopes that weren't traveled in the last 24 hours. They occurred in both sheltered and exposed areas to the wind.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 34-44 cm HST
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
We experienced light snow showers (S1) through the morning with lights winds out of the west.
Snowpack
South-facing, wind-exposed slope at 8,400 ' : The storm snow measured 34 cm in depth. Stability tests resulted in CT2 down 8 cm, CT8 down 30 cm, and ECTN8 down 30 cm, with failures occurring within the storm snow, likely due to a density change. Northeast-facing, sheltered slope at 9,700 ' : The storm snow measured 44 cm in depth. Stability tests recorded CT2 down 15 cm, CT10 down 32 cm, and ECTN13 down 37 cm, with failures also within the storm snow, likely at a density change.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 4
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- AV
- Elevation
- 8000 ft
This small avalanche failed in the new/old interface on an east facing slope above the highway. It was likely triggered by a snowplow between 0700-1130 hrs.