Observation: NWAC Forecaster

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Overcast and warm sum up the day. While the sun tried to poke through the clouds a few times, it never quite made it. Temperatures were above freezing. Light W winds were the norm, but were Moderate SW on exposed ridgelines.

Avalanche Observations

Map of listed avalanches: Avalanche Observation Comments:

The Chair Peak slide likely occurred during the brunt of the storm, and was evidenced by the crown and debris bring covered by several inches of snow.

On the N Slope of Chair Peak, all the small crowns from 3/12 were still visible but filled in.

Numerous small loose wet avalanches from the past few days were seen on steep southerly slopes.

Avalanche debris from the 2/27-3/1 cycle is still visible and impeeds travel

Snowpack Observations

The snowpack has become very aspect-dependent, which is normal for this time of year.
-S: A thick but breakable surface crust formed on top of the recent snow. This crust was thicker and more supportable at lower elevations in the morning and become much thinner above 4900'.
-N: At mid-elevations (4800'-5300') the recent storm snow was generally right-side-up. You could easily see, several storm snow layers including graupel and thin crusts which highlight the dynamic and fluctuating nature of this last storm system. Snowpack test did fail on a layer of graupel 8-10" (20-25cm) below the surface. However, small slopes and uptrack tests did not produce failures at this layer.
We were able to find the 3/8 facets. They continued to fail in Deep Tap tests, but were less reactive in a Propagation Saw test. While we could still easily identify the facets and see clear angles, they appeared moist and sticky.