Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

I saw no signs that any avalanches have occurred since NWAC visited on 1/30/2023. There was one cornice failure at about 4800 that looed new, but it didn't propagate down a steep adjacent slope.

Travel was on very form packed snow from 2600-8250' today.

Above 5600 feet, the snow was very wind scoured (especially in the 7000s) with obvious pillows of wind transported snow.

A pit at 8200 feet (south aspect, 20 degree slope) revealed a very hard ice layer (old rime?) 110 CM below the surface. Above that there was 50 cm of packed snow, a 10 CM hard ice layer, and then 50 cm of firm packed snow.

In the afternoon, at 6500-7000', there was a thin 1-2" thick surface layer that popped off and slid down the slope as climbers passed. Not seen at other altitudes.

From the tree line to about 4500', there was a thin melt crust.

Morning winds to 35 mph transported only very small amount of snow at latitudes of 6000-7000'. The day was mostly sunny with patchy high clouds. Snow remained form and frozen everywhere above the tree line. Summit temps were in the mid 20s.

All climbers today had seen the video that Andrew and Dallas made during their visit on Monday. It showed a very dangerous "surprise" avalanche. With that video in mind, and obvious pillows of wind transported snow still obvious, we all stayed on the ridges and avoided wind loaded valleys and lee slopes.