Quick report
- Cracking
- specific
New dense snow overlies a weak low-density snow layer. The new snow formed slabs quickly, and they continued to grow throughout our time in today's terrain. Constantly assessing and monitoring slab development and choosing sheltered areas with minimal loading was our key to avoiding large, well-connected slopes where avalanches could have been larger and ran further. We experienced a large amount of graupel pooling below cliff bands and in steep terrain, which should remain on the radar in the future. Informal snowpack assessment and red flag data led us to a quick conclusion of widespread instability in our terrain and had us moving carefully to have a successful day. Snowflakes sharp and swift, A tremor through the stillness, Whispers through the white. Signs of instability were hard to disagree with; we observed shooting cracks on our skin track headed up towards Tuckerman Ravine, along with full propagation on adjacent test slopes. New snow and wind-loading were also at the top of our minds.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- moderate
- Recent Snowfall
- N/O
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Avalanche
We triggered two small avalanches during our time near Empress. One on the ascent broke up around my feet and moved downhill; the other was triggered with a ski turn and propagated ~10 meters. Our terrain choices made it such that these avalanches were predictable and manageable.