Quick report
Despite a ring of dark clouds around us today, we got substantial pockets of blue sky and sun overhead, which quickly warmed the 10-12” of new snow up at higher elevation. The storm snow broke somewhat predictably on steep convexities and pillows, especially near ridgeline. The cornices on the ridge were some of the largest and most sculpted I have seen on all my trips to this area. Jim Hills western flanks looked notably wind hammered but saw no natural crowns or instabilities on its slopes. By noon, the light dry snow had solidified heavily with sun and temps and we made an earlier than expected exit.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 4600 ft
We observed a D1 in previously untracked snow in the chute west of Lanham Lake on our exit. The origination point was obscured by trees and steep terrain, but would guess either cornice fall or tree bomb initiation due to warming temps and sun