Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Wet Slab | Aspect | West Northwest |
Elevation | 4100ft | Slope Angle | 38deg |
Crown Depth | 18in | Width | 35ft |
Vertical Run | 150ft |
Skinned up towards Murphy Lake. Turned around just before the moraine, due to widespread, long-ranging collapses and recent wet-slab avalanches on NW side of Microdot. Many areas with thinner snowpack (approx. less than 70 cm) was isothermal or near isothermal, at elevations of 3000-3500′. In areas with shallower snowpack we would sink to the ground with our skis.
Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Wet Slab | Aspect | West Northwest |
Elevation | 4100ft | Slope Angle | 38deg |
Crown Depth | 18in | Width | 35ft |
Vertical Run | 150ft |
Two natural wet slabs (D1-D1.5), one went to the ground. Estimated crowns to be 18" and on slopes of roughly 38ยบ. Yesterday or last night also saw two wet avalanches in Martin mine gully (D1-D1.5), one for sure slab, the other might have been wet loose, both scoured or stepped down to the ground.
Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Very wet surface snow, with areas of isothermal snowpack.
The night of 4/31-5/1, saw above freezing air temps, but a decent re-freeze due to radiant cooling. The night of 5/1-5/2 was cloudy and snowpack did not re-freeze below 4000'. 5/2 was overcast with periods of fog, and a light drizzly rain starting in the afternoon.
Wet to very wet.
Found collapses in snowpack CT4, down 6" and CT12 down 20", on W aspect 3400'
Test slope below Eldorado Bowl (N aspect) produced wet slabs failing roughly 10" down on "new" (April 17) - old snow interface, when stomping on roll-over.