Touchy conditions in the White Pass

<p>Teaching a MIN observer course on Halcyon. Given the reactivity reported by recent MIN posts we decided to stay out of avalanche terrain but for training purposes we went looking for signs of instability. They were easy to find. Up to 15cm of snow fell in Thursday's storm and the snowpack below treeline is mainly facet below the new snow. At treeline and above the January 16 Melt Freeze crust is now burried between 15 and 80cm down. We found reactive windslabs in open glades. Widespread whumphing and lots of shooting cracks that re-enforced our decision to avoid any terrain with the potential to avalanche and stay clear of overhead hazard as we moved into treeline. As we transitioned into slightly more convoluted terrain we remotely triggered a size1.5 avalanche on a convex roll from about 150m away (see avalanche observation). We saw wide spread wind effect in the alpine and soft windslabs were observed in cross-loaded features at treeline. This windslabs were reactive in snow pit tests where a 15-20cm thick 4 finger soft slab overlay fist firmness storm snow. These windslab failed under easy loads in compression tests and demonstrated propagation propensity in extended column tests. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Mellow slopes, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Alpine slopes, Steep slopes, Convex slopes.

Avalanche Conditions

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

Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Snow Conditions

Crusty, Wind affected, Powder.

Weather Conditions

Warm.