Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Nate Hough-Snee, Manning, RichmanObservation Date:
December 21, 2022Submitted:
December 21, 2022Zone or Region:
East CentralActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Icicle CreekObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
3600Aspect:
NEComments:
Plenty of weak snow failed during the 20 Dec storm: surface hoar, facets below a crust, and density changes mid-storm. Deepest crowns to 35cmSigns of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, WidespreadDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
Temps were 5F/6F at the car with OVC to CLR sky and high westerly winds shifting to calm, easterly flow. We saw plenty of recent storm slabs that had failed naturally mid-storm and also ski cut several D1.5 slides on rollover features above terrain traps. Crowns to 35cm, with snow breaking down to 12/8 in the deepest slides. Shallower slides were on facets below a crust, likely 12/18. A quick crown profile from a natural D1.5 storm slab found facets below the crust as the deepest layer of failure. Ski cuts triggered small slides that ran 50-60' in large concave features, with relatively well connected storm slabs on sub-ridges.
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