Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Olivia RaceObservation Date:
January 5, 2023Submitted:
January 6, 2023Zone or Region:
East CentralActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
DirtyfaceTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
3000-6000'Aspect:
SEComments:
New Years Day melt freeze/solar crust (~ 3cm thick) underlying up to 15 cm new snow. The bond between this crust and the new snow was incredibly poor and it was easy to trigger fast moving dry loose slides from about 3-6,000'. We did not observe any slab structure but this interface could be interesting on solar aspects as more load is added.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
4500'Aspect:
SEComments:
Recent natural slides present in the Fall Creek drainages.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Skinned from 2000-6000' on primarily S-SE-ESE aspects. Up to 15cm Hn at upper elevations overlying a substantial MFcr (~3 cm thick). This crust was easy to skin on and supportable for skiing. The interface between the new snow and this crust was incredibly weak making it easy to trigger fast moving dry loose/sluffs on relatively low angle slopes. No slab structure observed but this weak interface will be one to watch on solar aspects w/ further loading. Did not look super closely but suspect NSF & possible rimed SH overlying the crust. Fun skiing higher up and decent coverage lower down w/ new snow becoming notably warmer in the 2-3000' range.
Media
