Observation: Public

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

With a couple hundred people skiing and snowshoeing at Paradise on Saturday, I expected to see a lot more observations. There was generally nice weather with sunshine above ~6500' and in and out of clouds at the Paradise parking lot. Very little wind.

Found approximately 30cm of soft snow in the parking lot and in wind-sheltered locations. As we ascended toward Muir, wind-board was more the norm, but we found it to be edgeable in most locations on our descent. We also found some really nice protected snow for our first powder turns of the year, below ~7500'. We were able to ski to the parking lot without issue, but plenty of rocks, bushes, open creeks, ice, and other early season hazards still exist. There was definitely rain up at Muir at some point judging by the amount of ice.

A larger crown was spotted as we ascended above Van Trump Park on a S/SE aspect at the base of some cliffs which was probably a wind slab. When we were at Muir, we saw old wet debris which looked like it initiated from the ridge between Muir and Cadaver Gap. We saw more wet debris looking over the Paradise glacier along with a few crowns. Also saw some old rollerballs.