Quick report
About a foot or more of new snow amplified by consistent and strong winds created rapidly increasing avalanche danger yesterday and today. Although snowfall intensity was decreasing today, winds were transporting significant amounts of snow with signs of recent avalanches, heavy snowfall, strong winds, poor structure, and cracking and collapsing all red flags showing on our way out of the area around mid day today. No cracking of collapsing noted prior to avalanches, but heavy new snow, winds, and poor structure all were active red flags.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- obscured
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Recent Snowfall
- 30
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
Snow and windy with high density snow moving around rapidly.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R2
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 2
- Aspect
- NE
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 9400 ft
Small (D1) soft slab avalanche unintentionally triggered mid-storm at around 1400 on 1/24 on a northeast aspect at about 9000’ in an opening in forested terrain that failed on the new/old interface about 8-10” deep, 50’ wide (could not get full view or picture of crown from below) and ran about 50’ downhill. (Picture 1) Overnight, several natural loose and slab avalanches were observed. Lots of D1 loose dry below trees on steep slopes and most Notably the slab that broke off below the cornice on the ridgeline above the yurt that was observed the next morning, but likely occurring overnight due to increased snow and a steady and strong wind. This was on an ENE aspect at about 9400’ and appeared to be wind slab failing on the new/old interface with a crown running as much as of the ridgeline as we could see from the cabin and already almost filled back in by the time we left the cabin at about 1000 on 1/25.