Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
- Collapsing
- specific
I observed 10–13 inches (25–33 cm) of new snow accompanied by active wind loading during the storm cycle. I intentionally triggered a slab avalanche in the Lake Chutes and remotely triggered a second avalanche in Timber Bowl. Several larger natural avalanches occurred in the early morning hours on upper-elevation north- and east-facing slopes. Shooting cracks and collapses were primarily noted along wind-loaded ridgelines and on north-facing slopes at mid-elevations, indicating continued sensitivity in recently loaded terrain.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- broken
- Wind Loading
- light
- Recent Snowfall
- 25–33 cm
The morning had a brief clearing, but not enough solar input to melt south-facing slopes. Snow showers came back in after noon, but mostly stayed S1 with some gusts.
Snowpack
The two primary layers of concern are the 2/16 interface containing buried surface hoar and the 2/8 faceted layer formed during the January drought. The remotely triggered avalanche in Timber Bowl failed on the 2/16 interface. Although the slab was relatively thin and soft, it propagated widely, demonstrating the reactivity and continuity of the buried surface hoar. It is also alarming to find this buried surface in the Titus Lake chutes. The 2/8 faceted layer is now capped by a developing slab. In areas where wind has redistributed snow and increased slab thickness, this layer has shown concerning structure and remains a potential problem, particularly in wind-loaded terrain. I don't trust either of these layers.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 4
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 9700 ft
This large avalanche was likely caused by strong Southerly winds overloading the weak layer from the January drought. A second avalanche is visible lower down in the bowl. It was possibly sympathetically released when the upper avalanche occurred.