Quick report
- Aspect
- Northwest
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Heavy Snowfall, Wind Loading, Cracking, Collapsing, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Elevation
- 2926 m
- Slope Angle
- 20°
This pit was dug in the exact location where felt a whumph during our tour. This was the second we felt of the day and was adjacent to a natural avalanche near Wills hill. The slide was not there when we left our snowpit at 10:50a and released by 11:30a when we were skinning up for our second lap, no other parties passed in this time frame and it is possible that it was triggered remotely from our tracks riding down. I will submit this ob in the avalanches section but attach a photo here as well.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>This layer is not going away soon and we will all sound like a broken record until it does. Our snowpack consists of several facet/crust combos from october and november storms with a fresh slab of new snow that is now 2-3' deep. Every time we recieve a significant load these faceted layers will be tested. Hearing a whumph, is real time feedback that the 12/9/21 buried surface facets are very much active and able to produce avalanches. At one point during our tour after feeling a whumph we dug a pit and found the results to be ECTPM SP down 50cm on a WNW slope at 9500' that measured 20 degrees. This tells us that we not only have a poor snowpack structure (strong snow over weak snow) but we also have poor strength as well. Again... these facets will take time to heal, be patient and steeper skiing and riding will happen eventually. </p> <p>Snow transport was easily seen when looking at the highest ridge lines. West monitor has filled back in and the normal cornices and wind boards forming nicely, you couldnt notice the old skier triggered slide from 12/10. Sheltered terrain and mid elevation slopes rode very well today with minimal wind slab formation. </p>
New snow felt right side up when traveling through fresh snow