Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
We found poor stability in steep terrain above treeline. It was easy to trigger both wind slabs (up to 16") and storm slabs (8") breaking at or just above the storm interface. Most were D1-1.5, and on a larger terrain feature, one wind slab was a D2.
Shooting cracks above treeline on wind-loaded and wind-sheltered slopes.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- intense
- Rain Elevation
- 8800
- Recent Snowfall
- 20
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
As of 2 p.m.: 8" of dry snow in sheltered areas above treeline, and 3" to 4" of moist snow below treeline. Winds increased midday, with periods of strong winds and intense transport, along with periods of light winds.
Snowpack
The storm interface is a melt-freeze crust everywhere except for due north above ~12,800', which is small-grained facets (where the snow stayed dry last week). Northeast aspects ATL have a crust/facet/crust sandwich: the upper crust is about 1cm thick and strong enough that it wasn't collapsing under the current load, and none of the avalanches broke deeper than the storm interface.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5
- Type
- SS
- Count
- 8
- Aspect
- NE
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 12800 ft
We skier-triggered numerous soft slabs ranging from a few inches thick to 16" thick. All of the avalanches broke in the storm snow and ran on underlying melt-freeze crusts. They appeared to be breaking on precip particles buried early in the storm. I also noticed 2 naturals, and we remotely triggered one slab.