Avalanche

Newman Creek/Butterfield Mountain

MillerGalena Summit & Eastern Mtns
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Observation photo 1Observation photo 2Observation photo 3

Quick report

It was a beautiful day out in the mountains with warming temperatures and settling storm snow. Buried PWLs proved reactive in stability testing and continue to be widespread throughout middle elevations (7500 - 9500 feet) in the Butterfield area.

No obvious signs of instability observed today.

Weather

Air Temp
20
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Recent Snowfall
15
Snow Avail For Transport
large amounts

Snowpack

  • 6 inches (15 cm) of new snow from New Year's storm
  • 1.5-2 feet (45-60cm) of settled new snow since Christmas
  • Facets below crusts still propagating in stability tests (PST 30/100 END S-aspect, ECTP x2 ENE-aspect and PST 35/100 END ENE-aspect)
  • 12/13 crust buried ~2.5 feet (75cm) down from surface on mid-elevation shaded aspects
  • 12/7 crust buried ~1.5 feet (45cm) down from surface on mid-elevation solar aspects
  • Total snow height is nearly double on N aspects (110-130cm) compared to S aspects (60-80cm) at similar elevations in the Butterfield area

Avalanche

Size
D2.5 R3
Type
HS
Aspect
NE
Trigger
N
Elevation
9500 ft

Observed one old large slab avalanche in upper Newman Creek from the post-Christmas storm.