Avalanche

Pearl Creek

Kevin StudleySalmon River Mountains
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Observation photo 1

Quick report

Recent avalanche activity. Looked to be from recent 3-5 days.

Weather

Air Temp
COLD
Cloud Cover
clear
Wind Loading
none
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Clear, sunny, and cold day. Bitterly cold in fact. Calm winds.

Snowpack

The snowpack has changed dramatically over the past 10 days. A dense slab 3-4 feet thick was formed during the multi-day storm cycle last week. This slab is overlying weak snow that formed during the January dry spell. We wanted to get some information about the persistent slab problem on a westerly aspect. We dug on a W aspect around 8000'. Janaury drought layer (JDL) was 105 cm (3.5 ft.) down. We did two PSTs on this layer and received a result of 37/105 End and 45/105 End. Persistent slab is becoming stubborn to human triggering and weak layer is slowly strengthening. I'm still leery of steep, rocky slopes where you can still find a thin spot in the slab. 

Avalanche

Size
D1.5 R1
Type
SS
Aspect
NW
Trigger
AM
Elevation
7700 ft

Observed a small, snowmobile-triggered avalanche from recent 3-5 days. Estimated as SS-AM-R1-D1.5-2' deep