Observation: Summit

Location: Tenderfoot to 2400'

Date:

January 1, 2016 3:00pm

Observer:

H. Thamm/Johnston-Bloom Professional

Route & General Observations

Normal West up-track through low meadows
Visibility was limited to about 2000′. Along the drive we could see a lot of recent avalanche debris in steep channeled terrain from Silvertip Creek to Summit Lake along both sides of the road. Investigated a small D1 slab on Tenderfoot in the low meadows above weather station. This was likely triggered naturally on Tuesday or Wednesday when rain saturated the snowpack to 2000′. Did not hear any collapsing or see shooting cracks.

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

Recent debris in:
Twin Peaks slide path in Silvertip Creek drainage ENE aspect
Across the road on a SW aspect several large debris piles
Moose Mountain W aspect
Butch W aspect

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

Obscure
Snowing/raining
rain/snow line ~ 1400'
Temps at 1200' 34F at 11am and 36F at 2pm
winds - 20-30 gusts 40mph

Snow surface

melt/freeze crust forming to 2000' with pockets of wind blown new snow on top 2-5"
2000'-2400' ~ Pockets of wind blown new snow 12-20"

Snowpack

See pit photos/diagrams for specifics:

Crown profile at 1800' - 34* slope, NW aspect, HS~55cm, CT12 SC, 8mm buried surface hoar layer failed on a melt/freeze crust with 12" slab on top. Slab was mostly wet and saturated with a light melt/freeze crust starting to form near surface.

Pit @ 2400' - HS=122cm, 30* slope, NNW aspect, Tests: ECTX x2, CT25 SC - failed on Buried surface hoar layer w/ a 25" slab on top. There were two surface hoar layers very visible in pit wall, but did demonstrate propagation potential in tests. The area in which we dug had vegetation growing through Thanksgiving rain crust layer near ground. This crust layer was rough and not uniform, but has 2mm rounding facets/loose melt/freeze grains on top of it.

Photos & Video

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