Observation: Summit

Location: Summit Peak, Butch Peak, Tri Tip

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Summit Lake Area (Summit Peak, Butch Peak, Tri Tip) -Natural avalanches and possible human triggered avalanches past 24hours….Widespread avalanche activity due to wind loading mid to upper elevations on all Aspects.

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

Natural Avalanches over the past 24hours due to wind loading on East, Southeast and Southwest aspects...isolated areas of wind loading still going on.
Possible human triggered avalanches on Summit Peak...small shallow slab D-1 -elevation 2800-3000', East aspect recently wind loaded. A fresh skin track and ski tracks were observed just below these small wind slabs.

Wind slabs are proving to be reactive due to active wind loading and could be triggered by skier/riders who venture into avalanche terrain (slopes steeper than 30 degrees.) Avalanches range from D-1 to D2.5 depending on location and amount of loading that has occurred on specific slopes. Many of the avalanches are failing on existing weak layers within the older snowpack including near the ground on basal facets/depth hoar layer.

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

Clear, Cold, and Winds still out of the Northwest

Snow surface

Upper Elevations are wind affected with areas of newly formed sensitive wind slab.

Photos & Video
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