Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 8, 2023
Submitted:
March 8, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Lee Lazzara
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Canyon Creek - Bearpaw (to 6200' W-N-E - visual on S'ly)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Settled posder and with sections of wind affected snow behind Church Mt.
Wind slab on the left, scoured snow on the right.
Wind affected snow alternating with areas of wind slab visible along the ridgeline. Whistler Creek/Church Mt - NNW at 6100'.
A few rollerballs were all the signs of wet loose we we able to observe from above. Large wet loose avalanches were seen in the big south facing gullies of Church Mt.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
5cm of +4F new snow above treeline. PP at surface slightly faceted but no well developed FC or SH observed in NTL start zones or ATL.

Calm and cool with mostly blue sky. Clouds were banking up around Baker and Glacier Creek around noon.

A few older D1.5 loose snow avalanches on south facing side of Bearpaw Mt. They looked dry but were probably initiated by snow falling off cliffs warming in the sun above.

Snowpack Observations

Below the few cm of new snow two prominent layers of P wind slabs were separated by 7cm of graupel, this layer also P. MFcr/FCxr complex from 70-100cm down. Only result was CTM-SP @ 32cm at softer wind slab/mid storm interface. Graupel and crust/facet layers produced no results. Hand shears in ridgeline wind slabs could pop a clean shear but only with much force. Stout crust (MLK?) felt with probe down 180cm at treeline/5000'.

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