Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
CB ThomasObservation Date:
December 30, 2022Submitted:
December 31, 2022Zone or Region:
East NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Hairpin ValleyObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6400Aspect:
NEComments:
Large soft slab avalanche originated in NE facing bowl above the Hairpin Valley. Appeared to entrain the new 14”-16” of new snow that sat above the 12/25 rain crust. The avalanche appeared to be full width where it exited the hourglass shaped bowl but did not reach the valley floor. Visibility obscured by snowfall and terrain.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
While exiting Pika Bowl via a NW traverse to the pillowed line to the valley floor, we crossed deposition from a large avalanche that originated in one of the seldom skied bowls east of Spire Gully. The debris was soft with no large blocks and did not contain any of the rain crust which indicated that it was likely just the storm snow running over the rain crust. It was snowing heavily which prevented us from seeing the start zone. This debris crossed an up track from a party who climbed to Pika Bowl on a less common route on 12/29 and there was no new snow on the debris which indicated that this slide ran during the day 12/30. We saw one sign of instability on a short, steep slope (see photo) but generally found excellent conditions and could manage concerns with route selection.
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