Observation: Summit

Location: Colorado Ridge

Date:

April 5, 2018 5:00pm

Observer:

Galoob / Haffener

Route & General Observations

Toured to 2562′ on Colorado Ridge’s north east shoulder. Spotted two natural slab avalanches in the area, see associated road observation for details.

Red Flags

Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.

Obvious signs of instability

Recent Avalanches?	Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?	No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?	No

Observer Comments

Spotted natural slab avalanches on NW aspect of Moose and SW aspect of Tenderfoot. Several wet loose avalanches.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.

Weather

T-shirt weather! 39 degrees at the road at 3:30 pm. Calm wind. Clear skies.

Snow surface

6" of new snow from yesterday's storm, 8" above 2000'. A breakable melt-freeze crust has formed on the surface on east aspects. In shaded areas or on north aspects, soft powder can still be found. The new snow sits atop an older 2" sun crust, with very weak, loose faceted snow underneath.

Snowpack

Hand pits failed easily below the older 2" sun crust on weak, loose facets.

Dug a quick test pit at 1868', E aspect, 22 degree slope. HS = 110cm. CTV x 2, ECTP7 down 70 cm on chained, cupped facets.

Dug two pits at 2562', ENE aspect, 22 degree slope. HS = 145 cm. CT3 PC, CT5 PC down 20 cm on facets below a melt-freeze crust. CT22 SC, CT 27 SC down 90 cm on 3mm facets. ECT propagated beyond test parameters (36 whacks) down 65 cm on Jan 25 BSH & facets and down 90 cm on 3mm facets simultaneously. ECTX in second pit.

Photos & Video

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Pit at 1868', E aspect, 22 degree slope. HS = 110cm. CTV x 2, ECTP7 down 70 cm on chained, cupped facets.

Pit at 2562', ENE aspect, 22 degree slope. HS = 145 cm. CT3 PC, CT5 PC down 20 cm on facets below a melt-freeze crust. CT22 SC, CT 27 SC down 90 cm on 3mm facets. ECT propagated beyond test parameters (36 whacks) down 65 cm on Jan 25 BSH & facets and down 90 cm on 3mm facets simultaneously. ECTX in second pit.

Sunny east aspects formed a breakable melt-freeze crust by 5 pm. In shaded areas and on northern aspects, 8" of settled powder can be found above ~2000'.

Breakable melt-freeze crust at 2562'.

The Summit Lake area continues to have a very thin snowpack. Here at 2000' on Colorado, barely a meter of snow can be found.

North end of Summit Lake area, east side.

South end of Summit Lake area, east side.