Quick report
We toured up the ridge south of Martin Mine to assess new slab avalanches that likely occurred yesterday. Travel on the ridge was wind scoured in locations and waist deep in others. We observed significant wind loading and stiff slabs at and below ridgeline on leeward and cross loaded slopes from SE winds that gusted 30-51mph at 4500' for 24 hours yesterday. Snow surfaces varied from low density on leeward aspects (actually only north) to thick, cakey, and hard to carve on south aspects. Snow surfaces warmed up on all but north aspects today. We triggered some small wet loose sluffs on steep southerly terrain in the afternoon after observing new rollerballs, enough to catch, carry and definitely tweak a knee if your timing isn't right. All in all-yesterdays wind combined with warmer temperatures have turned last week's low density snow into thicker, more cohesive snow with the potential for triggering a slab possible in specific terrain.
We observed 3 new slab avalanches in Martin Mine gully and 2 new slabs off of Marmot today. 10-12" of new snow in the last week combined with strong winds for 24 hrs yesterday built more cohesive enough slabs that failed naturally and/or were human triggered. These avalanches likely occurred yesterday, 3/18. We also observed a couple small human triggered dry loose sluffs in steep northerly terrain today. Mid day- early afternoon we triggered a couple small wet loose sluffs in steep southerly terrain that could have taken you out if they occurred in bigger terrain.Weather
- Air Temp
- 22
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Scattered skies held out most of the day until the cloud ceiling lowered early afternoon. Temperatures felt significantly warmer in the valley, with 29deg F at 3550' and 22degF at 4500'. The truck said 38degF when we left the lot in the afternoon. Winds were calm with a light breeze when we reached the ridge top.
Snowpack
Snow surfaces were significantly thicker, more cohesive and more affected by strong winds on 3/18 as you approached ridge top. Pole tests and hand shears showed newly formed slabs have propagation potential with moderate force and are becoming more stubborn.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- NE
- Elevation
- 4200 ft
We observed 3 recent slab avalanches in the Martin Mine gully. We thought we saw two sets of skier tracks up top in the upper main gut that likely triggered the first slide prior to sympathetically triggering the other two, but the tracks were hard to decipher bc of yesterday's wind.