Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- isolated
We approached Paola ridge from the north and noticed a lot of wind affected snow at higher elevations and on the west side of the ridge. Lots of cracking and a sizable slab separated on a steeper western slope (pictured). Noticed some small whumpfs where the wind affect was the highest. Snow was still very soft on the southern aspect in sheltered areas, but it was warming a lot in the sun and we started seeing more roller balls in the afternoon despite the cold temps.
-Signs of instability -warming snow -cracking and wind slabs -cornices -whumpfsAvalanche
- Size
- D1.5
- Type
- HS
- Aspect
- W
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 6800 ft
I saw a crack, and then intentionally stepped on it to see if it would propagate since it was lower angle terrain. The snow was firm and compact, not crusty or sun affected. This aspect was odd because it was sheltered so it looked like a bit of weird cross loading mostly