Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 16, 2023
Submitted:
January 17, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Lee Lazzara
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Herman (4200' - 4800' E-S-W)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

A basic profile of wind loaded slope.  The rain crust was 20-30cm deep in most locations but deeper in some while exposed at the surface in others.
Gaping hole below the Boulderfield on Herman. This 10' deep trap would be difficult to see from above during poor visibility.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Wind:
Moderate
New/Recent Snowfall:
20-30cm HST over rain crust

Mix between total whiteout and thick low clouds,. Winds light to moderate in Bagely Basin. Slight increase in temperature made for wet but light precipitation around noon. Overall poor visibility.

No new avalanches were observed.

Snowpack Observations

Wind gusts to the low 40’s redistributed snow down to 4000’ into dense wind slabs up to 60cm deep found an all aspects. Scattered, uneven distribution with deep, thick wind slabs mixed in with exposed crust on the same slope.

Slope testing produced no results except in the steepest or undercut cornice features. Hand shears gave mixed results, sometimes failing on isolation, sometimes hard results, generally somewhere in between and mostly non-planar.

New snow bond to rain crust was generally good except for where fresh, shallow winds slabs formed directly over exposed crust.



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