Observation: Public

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Traveled between 4400 and 6800 on primarily north-northeast aspects. A thin melt freeze crust from 2/1 disappeared around 4800'. Solar aspects up to 6800' formed a suncrust on 2/3, and moderate westerly winds were scouring upper elevation terrain. Probing and digging showed the mid-January MFcr Complex to be about 45cm down, with 10cm of rounding facets above it. Below the mid-Jan crust are 10cm of advanced 1-2mm facets. Recent storm snow in the past 5 days (30cm) had various interfaces showing CTE results, but no propagation indicated in ECT's. CT and ECT columns failed easily in the facets below the mid-January crust, which is where we suspect the collapses originated.

We skied conservative terrain, and experienced isolated collapses while putting in the skintrack. On isolated steep features we did not trigger avalanches but intentionally avoided consequential slopes.

The avalanches we observed were likely new wind slabs that occurred yesterday or today in isolated, steep terrain.