Observation: Avalanche Professional

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Weather Summary

The warmest day of the past week was calm and temperate. OVC skies and calm to light winds kept skinning temps comfortable with a soft shell or light thermal jacket. While crusts were abundant on solar aspects it was not warm enough to feel the crust warm and soften.

Avalanche Observation Comments:

No recent avalanches have been observed but avalanche debris from last weeks atmospheric river (AR) has been covered by new snow (Nov 6/7th) leaving obscured debris in the aprons of common avalanche paths. No loose dry observed on slopes up to 37 degrees.

Snowpack Observations

Hand shears and test slopes have consistently shown hard non planar to no results on the Nov 5th crust interface 70cm down. While at the same time moderate planar hand shears 40cm down and 20cm above the crust were found on Nov 10th in specific leeward north facing terrain near ridge line. Isolated wind effect formed small slabs in wind prone areas NTL in cross loaded terrain features. These formations rarely cracked with 1 observed shooting crack on Nov 10th. South aspects BTL/NTL had a breakable crust that thinned with elevation gain. Easterly aspects NTL had a mix of settled pow and wind scoured and sun effected crusts. Many areas BTL had ice forming over lightly covered rocks and slabs. Through out the zone height of snow (HS) ranged from 0-150cm.