South Fork Big Pine Alpine Obs

Quick report

Observed widespread supportable windboard on all aspects traveled over. In places near surface faceting has softened the surface, though these NSFs were largely being stripped by strong to extreme winds on slopes with any exposure. Isolated wind loading was observed (see attached avalanche). Steep, confined and sheltered features were generally soft and were not showing slab characteristics. Solar aspects are turning into proto-corn, becoming moist by midday and unsupportable by late afternoon. Strong to extreme SW winds in ALP from 0309-0310, abating AM of 0311 (mod gusting strong in ALP still). Blowing snow in all but steep and sheltered features, loading was limited to mid-slope features where terrain effects could allow deposition.

Avalanche

Size

D1 R2

Type

HS

Aspect

N

Trigger

AS

Elevation

12500 ft

Fresh wind slab on cross-loaded convexity on steep, planar slope. Skier accidental though not unexpected or unforeseen.