Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
We found reverse wind loading along the Coney's ridge. The steady light to moderate NE winds were eroding the cornice and drifting to the SW slope. This seemed like an uncommon but not unheard of wind direction. We jumped on 1F+ wind drifts and they cracked around the skis and just to either side of the impact zone.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- light
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Steady wind kept the snow surface from warming near the ridgeline. Few clouds kept the sun on us all day.
Snowpack
We looked for persistent slab structure across the Coney's zone targeting observations to the areas where a slab existed, either in a currenlty wind loaded area, or a previously wind affected zone. Otherwise the slab was not greater than 4F and not conducive for propagation in all tests. That said, we continue to get mixed results, ECTP and ECTN and ECTX. Surface condition is mostly Wind broken particles, near surface facets, surface hoar, and melt freeze crust (softened) depending on aspect.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5
- Aspect
- SW
- Elevation
- 11900 ft
Relatively recent windslab avalanche on several aspects in upper Washington Gulch and further to the west into Purple Palace zone in upper Slate.