Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Michael NanneyObservation Date:
December 4, 2022Submitted:
December 6, 2022Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Crystal backcountryObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
middle of slope 250' below ridgelineAspect:
WComments:
Third run on Sunday off of Crown Point/Blue Bell Pass south of Bullion Peak. Significant winds from the east consistent with the forecast produced wind hammered conditions skinning on the east side of the ridge and wind transport into the Pickhandle Basin in the drainage due south of the Gold Hills chair at Crystal. Each skier in the party produced dry slough with each turn which led to skiing one by one to tree or rock "islands of safety". One member of the party produced a wind slab avalanche that extended approx 10' on either side of his position and approx 20' down slope of him. The slab was 6-8" deep and ran as neat "dinner plates" before breaking up into tumbling snow. Skier was unharmed and slab ran below his position. Location of avalanche was at treeline approximately 250' below the ridgeline.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Wind slab avalanche on lee side of the n-s ridge exactly as forecast. New cornices were reaching into this basin and the trees on the ridge were mostly bear on the windward side while quite snowy on the downwind side. Temps were cold and snow was dry and not bonding into slabs on previous two runs, although by run two turns produced slough that would run 20' or so. Run three at 2:30 in the afternoon produced the small avalanche.