Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | 0 | Aspect | North |
Elevation | 2400ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | 14in | Width | 25ft |
Vertical Run | 50ft |
Normal Tincan uptrack to treeline. Wind effect along the entire route. Snow surface stiffened as we gained elevation.
Trigger | Skier | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | 0 | Aspect | North |
Elevation | 2400ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | 14in | Width | 25ft |
Vertical Run | 50ft |
There were two avalanches in the area, one triggered just above us by a snowboard cutting across a wind loaded pocket. The other was triggered by skiers on a lower ridge (see photo). This avalanche was a wind slab running on small facets that formed during the cold snap prior to the recent storm. It was small but the chunks of debris were sizable.
Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Red flags observed: recent avalanches, recent new snow, recent wind loading and shooting cracks. We observed a snowboarder traverse a slope and send shooting cracks 15 ft below him. From a binocular observation at the road we discovered that slope had also slid from an additional rider through the area.
Lightly snowing
22F
SW winds, 10-15mph, gusts to 30mph
1000' - 4" of new snow with minor wind effect
1500' - 4-8" of wind stiffened snow
2000'- 2500' - Variable surface conditions ranging from wind scoured ridges to loaded gullies and deposition zones.
The areas of highest concern are slopes where fresh wind slabs are sitting on small facets that formed in the cold period prior to the recent storm. See photos and video