Quick report
- Red Flags
- Poor Snowpack Structure
Photos of two different pits, where the slab is
1. thinner and ECTP22
2. thicker and it is difficult to affect the DJL.
I also saw this avalanche on Brighton Hill, just above the cabins above BCC highway and the Guardsman Pass Road. This was on a north aspect at 8,900'. It appeared to run naturally, and is likely a wet slab that failed on the DJL.
The recent warm temps and snow from this past week has smoothed out the snow surface. With more snow in the forecast this week, we have the potential for some decent riding conditions ahead.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>The DJL facets are now buried 30-90 cms (1-3 feet) and haven't gained much strength as they are still F hardness, but the slab above the facets is now much stronger, up to pencil hard in places. On slopes where the slab is deeper (> 60 cms), it is harder to affect the DJL. But on a slope with a ~50 cm slab above the DJL, I was still able to get full propagation with an ECTP22 down 55 cms.</p> <p>I still don't trust this structure, and the lack of feedback (no collapsing) gives us a false sense of security. Combined with spatial variability of the thickness of the slab and the weakness of the DJL, and warm temperatures, it is an easy decision to continue to avoid steep northerly slopes.</p>
A generous few cms of new snow. Warm temperatures and dense snow from this past week has smoothed out the snow surface on many slopes, providing easy travel and riding conditions.