Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 17, 2022
Submitted:
April 17, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Andy Harrington
Zone or Region:
West South
Location:
Crystal Backcountry: Bullion, Crown, Pickhandle

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Blocks of snow failing in wind-loaded terrain.
Weak snow surfaces were found on multiple aspects, but started to diminish with sunshine throughout the day.
A couple of new natural loose avalanches near Blue Bell Pass, one of which was a cornice failure.
Freshly built cornices on a E aspect. The other side of the ridge also had signs of wind-loading due to the variable winds in recent days.
A shooting crack in wind affected terrain on an W aspect near Crown Point. This is the opposite side of the ridge from where you typically see wind-loading.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

New/Recent Snowfall:
2-3"

Bright and sunny morning with a few puffy clouds off in the distance. Cool to start with warming temps. On the ridge we felt a cool light breeze.

Spotted a couple of new loose avalanches on E aspects by Blue Bell Pass. Other than that, lots of evidence of Friday's warmup and the snow was starting to warm up again by the time we left the field. Trees were shedding and snow was allllllmost pushable on southerly slopes by Crown Point.

Snowpack Observations

We found 2-3" of low-density cold snow had fallen overnight. On slopes that see more sunshine, the new snow fell onto a ~2" crust. On shady slopes, this upper-crust did not exist and the new snow fell on older and well-settled storm snow. We could get a few areas of wind drifted snow to pop off blocks as we skied through them and I got a shooting crack or two in wind-pillows while skinning. There was wind-loading on both sides of the ridgeline due to the recent variable winds and a couple of freshly built cornices from last night.

WordPress Lightbox