Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Out of hundreds of skintrack switchbacks, we encountered only isolated shooting cracks (>5ft) in 3 or 4 switchbacks. No collapsing/whumping noted.
Weather
- Wind Loading
- light
- Rain Elevation
- ~8400'
- Recent Snowfall
- ~30cm near treeline
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Our Saturday (late afternoon) ascent to camp (9,600') was cloudy, with small amounts of sleet, graupel, wet snow, dry snow, and little to no wind. On Sunday, the clouds broke into scattered clouds with westerly and northerly winds near treeline.
Snowpack
On Saturday, the snowpack was wet up to near 9,200', when it started to dry out a bit.
On Sunday, above 10,000', we noted widespread wind effects on the snow surface in open (treeless) areas. The snowpack had an upside-down feel (poor structure), with denser storm snow over softer storm snow. At higher elevations, denser wind-packed snow overlayed softer snow. Near 11,300', the new snow was 30-40cm thick and generally 4F hard with some softer snow and occasional 1F- wind boards. The new snow was only 10cm thick in some locations (generally on the wind-exposed rib out of the paths).
Near treeline, instability tests in two locations of northern aspects in Cohonina Path and Abineau Bowl indicated that the new snow had moderate to high strength and no tendency to propagate fractures. Continuous pole probing indicated variable hardness and thickness of denser layers. The new/old snow bonding was good. The old snow consisted of more than 20cm of P+ hard M/F.
The snowpack was >3m deep near treeline! Above treeline, it was scoured to rocks in many upper starting zones.
Above treeline, the wind-packed snow was thicker and appeared more continuous in Abineau Bowl. This was an area of concern.
This Feb. avalanche occurrence was updated based on debris in Abineau Canyon (at 10,100') and debris at the bottom of the Anasazi Path.