Quick report
Noted point release loose wet movement on E facing aspect that we were skiing at roughly 6800 feet. Did not step down into deeper layers and appeared to only affect the top 5 cm of snow. Based on the lack of reactivity from deeper layers we felt comfortable skiing terrain, however, a wet slab avalanche stepping down to the persistent weak layer was on our mind. Noticed a wet slab avalanche on a west-facing slope around 5000ft. Appeared to be a day or two old.
Weather
- Air Temp
- 30
- Cloud Cover
- scattered
- Wind Loading
- none
- Recent Snowfall
- 0
- Snow Avail For Transport
- none
Warm conditions. Noted freeze line around 4200 feet. Saw some blue skies and sunshine briefly at 6800 feet. Conditions varied from partly sunny to overcast and foggy.
Snowpack
Snowpit dug at 6800 feet E facing aspect 175cm deep CT12 25cm ECT19 30cm no propagation Snow appeared to be right side up to 12/22 crust - relatively consistent heavy snow from the surface to the faceted layer near the ground. Snow at upper elevations did not exhibit a rain crust or freeze crust layer. Snow was heavy compared to the cold smoke snow we were blessed with the past couple weeks. Still great skiing - felt like skiing supprotive mashed potatoes.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1 R1
- Type
- SS
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 5000 ft
An avalanche was spotted from across the valley. Low snowpack and released around steep rock band.