Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
- Collapsing
- isolated
There were shooting cracks on the snow from 4000ft in elevation and higher to ~5000 where we transitioned for downhill. We travelled cautiously, and kept our eyes on the hills around us for signs of instability. I performed an ECT at 5000ft on the East ridge of Easton canyon, and had very inconclusive results. I was unable to get a clean fracture in Snow temperature: ~32 F Air temperature: 36 F Slope angle of test: 30 degrees Two main layers: Top: 40cm of new snow, very wet, 4F. Lower: ~205cm of wet rounded grain snow, 1F-K top to bottom We chose to ride low angle slopes back down from the ridge to Schrieber’s Meadow. I was able to trigger one D1 wet loose avalanche in safe terrain of about 30 degree slope. Weather conditions for the day were warm ~35-40 F. It was raining from when we started at 10:30 am from 3000ft up to ~3500ft until around 8pm when we got back to vehicle. Above 3500ft, it oscillated between rain/sleet/snow. Low visibility most of the day. Snow surface was very sticky below 4100ft.
Avalanche
East Aspect of Survey Point above Schrieber’s Meadow. We witnessed a D3/D4 avalanche come down from around 5000ft and end in Rocky Creek at ~3500ft. Rock and snow debris was flowing off the cliff side for approximately 30 seconds. Knoll of E ridge line at ~5000ft heading up toward Easton Glacier. Observed multiple wet loose avalanches that naturally occurred between 2-4pm. All avalanches were on slopes greater than 40 degrees ~4800ft on E ridgeline of Easton canyon, skier triggered wet loose avalanche, slope angle around 30-35 degrees, 15 foot crown, approximately 1.5ft deep. Avalanche flowed downhill about 20 feet.