Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Eddie RObservation Date:
January 16, 2023Submitted:
January 16, 2023Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Crystal/Boullion BasinTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6400'Aspect:
NWComments:
Wind slab. NW aspect. 25cm crown but probably half that depth on average. 30 ft x 30 ftSigns of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Intentionally ski cut the top of the NW run off of Boullion Peak, knowing there was a shallow but firm slab sitting on top of the rain crust from the weekend. We could clearly identify the size of the slab from the ripply/pillowy texture of the slab vs the smooth, soft, loose snow surrounding it from the top. It ran about 100 ft, slowly, and dissipated into the soft snow below.
We skied just about every other aspect of the peak and saw no other signs of wind loading. There was clear wind scouring on the S and SW sides, with very small cornices forming on the NW ridge. Wind was calm at the summit all day. Most W-NE facing snow was soft and not cohesive, 8-12" deep ATL with a supportable crust underneath.
Media
