Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 9, 2022
Submitted:
April 10, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Canyon Creek (2500-5500ft)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

One of the few times we could see the entire slope, since the weather was so unsettled. Our tracks filled in quickly, where ones made a couple hours earlier were no longer visible.
Intense snowfall occurred at times, at a rate of S10.
Brief intense sun breaks began in the afternoon. We saw tiny rollerballs on cut banks on the ride down.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
About a foot of new snow from last 24hrs above 5000ft.

Weather changed constantly, from only having about 50m visibility and S10 (very heavy) snowfall, to occasional sucker holes where we could actually see nearby and adjacent slopes. About 6 inches fell overnight, and another 6 inches fell through midday. Snow was low density and cold. Sunny patches became more frequent in the afternoon. Around 6 inches fell at 3500ft, and snowline was about 1200ft but most snow in the bottom few hundred feet melted during the day.

Snowpack Observations

The new snow sat over a thin, still-moist 4/8 crust about a foot down, and we found the layers were well bonded to each other. The crust was boot supportable some of the time. We only traveled in areas where the new snow had been minimally wind-affected. There were no slablike qualities where we were, just dry low-density snow with some graupel mixed in.

As we were heading down intense sun shone, and the lower elevation cut banks had very small rollerballs running down them.

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