Observation: Summit

Location: Fresno

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Standard uptrack, lower Fresno

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)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

Consistent whumphing and shooting cracks the entire way up on both laps. On one whumph, we had a large shooting crack about 50' in length- the slope fractured as in an avalanche with multiple large blocks but we were on low angle terrain that was not steep enough to slide. No pictures because of visibility.

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

Overcast, lightly snowing, light winds. Sufficient vis to see large crowns on various aspects, and large cornices on western aspects, recently formed.

Snow surface

Powder on lower Fresno, evident wind effect at and above treeline. Absolutely fantastic ski quality on low angle terrain.

Snowpack

Hand shear tests revealed significant instability of new snow over facets; columns failed on isolation. Few inches of new snow over breakable rain crust for first 100-200 vertical feet from the road.