Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 1, 2023
Submitted:
April 1, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Canyon Creek (2500-6000ft, N, E, W)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Wind locading was mainly noticeable along ridgelines, but most slopes weren't too wind affected or slablike. This was one of the few tiny pockets of sunlight we experienced during the day at Bearpaw.
Most aspects aside from north had a crust beneath the new snow layer. This location had little wind-effect, and I didn't get any pit test results.
I targeted a wind lip to perform an extended column test, and unsurprisingly I got a propagating extended column test in the wind-loaded location. (F to 4F slab - 30cm -- over 1F). Obvious loading was present along the ridgeline, visible beyond the pit.
A non-wind loaded location didn't have enough slablike qualities to produce a propagating extended column test. Here, the slab was approximately 28cm deep.
Small amounts of wind-effect and sluffing are visible beneath the cliffs. In general, this area didn't have much wind-effect in the basin.
35cm of fist-hard new snow overlying the variable 1F layer beneath.
There wasn't much travel into steep start zones in the Bearpaw area, and the only avalanche we saw was initiated naturally in the steep chute from a sluff, and a shallow crown was visible beneath the chute. D1

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
30cm

Typical spring weather ranger from infrequent blue patches to intense graupel, obscured skies, and S1 snow at times. Wind generally calm but occasionally light, variable.

Snowpack Observations

Snowline for old snow is about 2000ft. Overnight snow began at about 2500ft, and totaled just about a foot, +/-2" at 4000ft+

While traveling around the greater Bearpaw environs we found a minimally wind-affected storm snow layer, Hand tests and small pits. didn't get consistent results beneath or within the storm layer. On aspects aside from north, beneath this new snow layer was a 3/31 crust. Northerlies did not have an underlying crust, but rather a 1F layer. In some locations the 3/31 crust appeared slick, but I still generally was surprised about the bond. In some locations the underlying layer was slick, while in others it was irregular and rough.

Wind slabs and loaded pockets were easily visible along ridgelines, and we avoided those locations.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
None Specified
WordPress Lightbox