Quick report
- Red Flags
- Recent Avalanches, Cracking, Rapid Warming, Poor Snowpack Structure
- Red Flags Comment
- <p>Many Hasty Pits confirmed Drew's observation of small rounding facets as the culprit weak layer involved in some of the recent avalanches over the past 24 hours. Of note, there were several other hasty pits that identified a reactive weak layer 7 cm above the m/f crust that has been identified as the active bed surface. In these locations there appeared to be a 7 cm, 1 Finger Plus friable/ambiant m/f layer from that was likely from the beginning snows that fell earlier in the week. These were on very protected Northerly facing slopes with angles greater than 30 degrees. Interestingly, it was easy to produce clean shears on this layer, and there was good bonding to the pre-storm m/f crust layer. </p> <p>Regardless of all of this, the reactivity that was observed on Thursday had settled out significantly in all areas traveled, and it was Stubborn. No cracking was observed on cold snow areas int the morning hours. Yet as the day warmed, it was posslble to see those Red Flags of cracking and avalanching on slopes that were not even getting direct solar. Upon exiting the right shoulder of the Dog Lake Chutes, small slopes with angles greater than 30 degrees were exhibiting cracking; and see Photo 2 of the avalanche that was triggered by riders on the lower hump of the Pioneer Bowl Runout area. </p> <p>Whether the pre-storm m/f crust have facets above them, or just preserved decomposing stellars, this latest round of Widespread Avalanche activity was record setting. What is unusual were the numerous high consequence slopes that were ridden without any issues on Thursday. East Castle was ridden wall to wall, and the Tuscarora Main Chute/Seagull had many tracks that dropped in from the top. </p>
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>See above, and with the continual warming the distribution of this issue should continue to shrink, and most likely be only an issue on the Upper Elevation slopes with aspects from NNW through NNE. Unfortunately the consequences for these fairly large avalanches become greater in terrain that has a higher risk potential. </p> <p> </p> <p>Whether we call this a New Snow/Storm Slab with a contributing factor of Wind, or PWL issue, the fact remains that it is still lingering and potentially very dangerous.</p> <p>Exit from the BC occurred at 1430 and at that time, the Wet activity was just getting going with large areas of roller balls descending from the SE Facing cliffs of the Dog Lake Chutes. It was likely that the warming and solar in the afternoon hours saw much more natural activity. The forecast for continual warming combined with patches of cloud cover will only exacerbate this issue on all aspects over the new few days.</p> <p> </p> <p>For today, it appeared that Human Triggered Avalanches were Likely, so Considerable. For Saturday, Human Triggered Avalanches will continue to be possible, so Moderate. </p>
Variable conditions at the start of the day with all aspects with low slope angles having various thicknesses of m/f crusts from the previous days warming and solar. Greenhousing appeared to not be the issue as there were patches of soft snow in the low angle northerly facing trees. ENE, NE, N and NW aspects with slope angles greater than 25 degrees held excellent right side up riding in the storm snow. The new snow based up well overnight and the riding was better than on Thursday. Very little wind damage was observed in areas traveled, yet tour only topped out at 10,500. By 1200 the solar was becoming very prevalent, and see Photo 1 of what appeared to have happened around that time; and it was likely a Snowboarder triggered Wet Slide on the rider's left side the Healing Shot.