Avalanche
View on mapWest Agassiz Ridge and Snowslide Ridge
Tanner PorterSan Francisco Peaks / Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
We encountered numerous reactive windslab pockets that varied in reactivity, energy, and size. We triggered two small avalanches on a south and south-southwest facing test slopes. In addition, we encountered reactive pockets that would maintain shooting cracks up to ~10 feet on a north-west aspect.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Rain Elevation
- NA
- Recent Snowfall
- Trace
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Limited visibility with 10-20 mph NNW winds on Agassiz ridge above treeline and 15-30 mph ENE winds on the ridge above snowslide.
Snowpack
In addition to the two avalanches, we experienced significant ongoing transport that was often slope-specific with loading occurring on south and north-west aspects.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 11500 ft
Two small (D1) wind slab avalanches that were intentionally triggered while assessing the snow stability. Both failed on the new old snow interface.