Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Jeremy AllynObservation Date:
February 16, 2021Submitted:
February 16, 2021Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
CrystalObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6350Aspect:
SEComments:
Recent natural triggered by heavy wind loading, broke 1ft deep on 24hr storm snow interface and pulled out pockets of soft storm slab lower in the feature. Main gully dropping into Union Creek just north of Blue Bell PassPhoto:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Up Bullion Peak NW ridge, south along Crown Pt ridgeline, down SW ridge of Crown, low under Pickhandle Gap, thru low notch N of Pickhandle Pt and out Pickhandle via standard route to Gold Hills. This route largely avoids avalanche terrain, minus a few small features and a bit of overhead hazard under Pickandle Point and gaining the NW ridge of Bullion Peak. Wind was the biggest player today - squirly and variable in the BTL and mod-strong from the W at ridgetop with periods of intense blowing snow. Lots of drifting along the main ridgelines, but very little cracking or storm snow instability in small pieces of wind affected terrain I engaged with. 48hr storm snow layering was a touch upside down., but never more than 4F over F. Ski pen pushed 45cm. Needs to settle to improve ski quality.