Observation: Public

Observation Details

Triggered Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Started the day planning to avoid steep terrain. Followed skin track up East Tronson. Test slopes on the same N aspect in sparse trees below yielded no cracking or signs of instability. As the skin track approached steeper terrain hand pits highlighted a warm wet layer ~1’ below surface that was corn like. The snow seemed fairly well bonded in these hand pits as well as test slopes below so the group pressed on reaching a bench (5,700’) below the ridge line. Here the group observed a small past slide on a convexity that looked like a skier had triggered it earlier that morning. 1’ crown, 20’ across, traveled 20’ (first and second photos). In the same vicinity 20’ shooting cracks were observed with every step. The group opted to turn back down the skin track after this observation. When traveling down skin track and testing the snow, the front 1’ of ski tip triggered the slide described above. No one was caught in it because the group was on fairly shallow terrain however shooting cracks were observed across the shallow slope right above the group (second photo. Arrow shows where ~100’ long crack traveled. Actual slide below to left).