Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | Southwest |
Elevation | 5000ft | Slope Angle | 35deg |
Crown Depth | 12in | Width | 40ft |
Vertical Run | 100ft |
Toured on a variety of aspects (S-NW) in the Pinnacle zone up to 5200ft
Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | Southwest |
Elevation | 5000ft | Slope Angle | 35deg |
Crown Depth | 12in | Width | 40ft |
Vertical Run | 100ft |
Recent, did not appear to be triggered by cornice or any loose activity
Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observed two whumpfs on a W-SW aspect slope around 5000ft w/ one 10ft shooting crack. W asp, planar slope, slightly thicker surface slab (~30cm), >30deg. Turned around and pronounced hail marys....
HPAC's excellent advisory for the weekend confirmed the overall theme of "variability" in snow surface and upper snowpack structure. Ski quality was good-poor. Confidence in was low and we tried hard to avoid exposure to terrain traps.
Quick tests generally confirmed slowing settling and strengthening wind slabs of highly variable thickness and distribution over a weak near surface structure...especially in upper elevations. Resistant planar fracture character at the interface below any surface slab. Pole, ski and boot pen super inconsistent.