Job’s Lightning Bolt Couloir
Quick report
Observation covers Sunday and Monday. Entered couloir roughly 11am Sunday. While reconning different options up, triggered some pinwheels, but no other current risk indicators on either day (skied couloir 8am Sunday after another decent overnight radiational refreeze). That said, down low, snowpack is thin and mushy w old avy debris providing reasonably supportable ascent midday Sunday. At 3pm Sunday around 8.5k’, I dug down a bit and found dry-ish snow below the first few inches of wet snow so with current warming trend, upper elevations may become more saturated too raising wet slab risk until temps dip again. Above 7.5K’, surface conditions were fairly clean and afternoon boot penetration w selective route was usually at or less than ankle while ski conditions at 8am Monday were enjoyable, edge-able in the shade and damp but stable in the sun. Side note: Job’s summit ridge approach to final climb is a beast (hence the two day post), but surface coverage was sufficient for enjoyable 850’ descent back to ridge. “Jaws”(?) recon pics look promising up high but recon hike to 6500’ drainage intersection implied a possibly ugly exit down low (tho first time to the area).
Avalanche
Multiple somewhat to very weathered debris deposited between 6200’ & 7500’ with bed surfaces that implied initiating from couloir steep sidewall trees or crags. Noteworthy for current travel conditions below 7500’ and future location route/path risk. I