Post Storm Loop - Overlord Shoulder, Whirlwind Peak

Zee68 , Wednesday 18th December, 2024 8:15PM

Went to overlord shoulder and back to Whirlwind. Stuck to mellow terrain. Evidence of some avalanches from storm (size 1s, steeper terrain) Surprisingly stable though we stayed away from steep slopes. No whumpfing or settlements noted during our day. Heavy wind at ride top (20-30 knots or so - best guess). Blowing primarily West, South-west. Dug a pit on west aspect, at about 2200 meters. Rain crust 100 cm down, storm snow evident down to 20-30 cms. Wind affected. Was not really consolidating into cohesive slabs. We had: -small fracture with no propagation at medium 5 (elbow) 30 cms down (recent storm/wind deposited snow). Fracture form was progressive compression. -fracture at hard 2 (from the shoulder) at 50 cms down, no propagation (resistant planar) -fracture at 70 cms down at hard 10 (from the shoulder), no propagation (non planar break) Overall good day, stability was more than we expected.

Dug a pit on west aspect, at about 2200 meters. Rain crust 100 cm down, storm snow evident down to 20-30 cms. Wind affected. Was not really consolidating into cohesive slabs. We had: -small fracture with no propagation at medium 5 (elbow) 30 cms down (recent storm/wind deposited snow). Fracture form was progressive compression. -fracture at hard 2 (from the shoulder) at 50 cms down, no propagation (resistant planar) -fracture at 70 cms down at hard 10 (from the shoulder), no propagation (non planar break) Overall good day, stability was more than we expected.

Howling wind at ridge tops. Blowing primarily from the West/Southwest