Quick report
We observed a few recent avalanches due to a combination of wind-loading and weak snow interfaces on the north half of the compass. Slabs exist in both wind-loaded and sheltered terrain but appear hard to trigger. We suspect the most dangerous slopes are where recent wind-loading formed slabs above weak snow buried 2-3' deep. We observed some small wet loose avalanches in the Sawtooths in the late afternoon.
No cracking or collapsing.Weather
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Recent Snowfall
- A few inches overnight
- Snow Avail For Transport
- moderate amounts
Equal parts sun and clouds. One potent squall left about an inch on the skin track by mid-afternoon. The sun was warm, but temperatures were cool. Cold wind chill.
Snowpack
3/12 Weak Layer: This was buried 65-85 cm deep in protected terrain; thinner on wind-affected SW and W. We found 1 mm near-surface facets here on a NNW at 8,400' (ECTXs). Hand pits on sunnier slopes showed a good bond to rough crusts.
Storm Layers: Tests return some inconsistent, mixed results (ECTPs and Ns) in mid-storm layers. I could not identify any persistent grains/crusts. The dust layer was not observed where I looked, but was obvious and at the surface in the Boulder Foothills.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2
- Aspect
- E
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 8500 ft
Recent slides on Bull Trout Point and south of Copper. Some standard-looking wind slabs and one wide persistent slab on an E-face.