Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Tod BloxhamObservation Date:
February 17, 2021Submitted:
February 17, 2021Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Crystal Mountain - Pickhandle / Bear GapObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5900Aspect:
SEComments:
Just south of bear gap, over convex steep rock, approx 40cm crown, 150' wide crown, 200' track. Was from previous day, likely winds lab triggered by tree sluffing.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
Test profile at 5700' N aspect below Pickhandle Gap. Right side up snowpack down to 0.5mm FC at 90cm. ST and CT tests resulted in no results or hard results at multiple storm interfaces in top 60cm.
Consistent whoomping on south aspects. Wind slabs were present and cracking near ridgelines. Shooting crack from one wind slab was 75' long on a convex roll just beyond ridgeline.
Loose avalanche observed on SW facing aspect off of Bullion peak, triggered by trees.
Large east wind cornices on ridges. We were able to get one smaller one to break intentionally.
Intense sun on south aspects resulted in heavy pow and roller balls.
Kept to lower angle terrain. Overall snow skied incredibly well.
Media
