Quick report
• Several D1 loose dry avalanches on steep, rocky terrain above 6000’ (photo). • No slab avalanches observed. • Other than the D1 sluffs, no other signs of instability observed. • Most of the tour was spent in terrain sheltered from the wind. But we found wind slabs unreactive to ski cuts up on the ridge crests above 7000’. • 1-3’ of new and recent snow has settled on top of the late-Jan facets. In terrain sheltered from the wind this new snow has not formed a cohesive slab. • Below 5500’ the snowpack was composed of soft facets below the most recent snow and made for slow uphill travel. Ski penetration was typically 12-20+” and almost to the ground. • Minimal wind loading above 7000’.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- few
- Wind Loading
- none
- Snow Avail For Transport
- large amounts
• Mostly clear skies provided excellent views of the avalanche terrain above the Railway and Hwy 2 (photo). • Calm, or light winds from the SW. • No precipitation • Cold, sub-zero °F air temperatures on the Canyon floor in the morning, warming to the 20s °F by the afternoon.