Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 12/26/2017
Name: Eric Murrow
Subject: Anthracite avi activity after storm
Aspect: North, North East, East
Elevation: 10,000 – 11,500
Avalanches:
Numerous slides- multiple releases at top of east bowl(photo), several small rollovers half way up skinner(photo), numerous at head of Playground Basin(photos), and one remote skier triggered in Big Chute(photo)
Weather: Generally clear skies with few clouds about. Winds were light with no visible transport.
Snowpack: After the past weeks snow, sheltered terrain around the Anthracites, have settled new snow depths of 22cm to 35cm. Recent snow was still Fist hardness but certainly has begun to settle and become a bit more cohesive. In areas that saw wind deposits were definitely slab like with 4finger hardness.
Ski conditions were noticeably more supportive today. While skiing tree chute and sliver, cracks and collapsing were common. Even in well sheltered pitches. These instabilities were relegated to new/old interface, about 30cm down. We also experienced a large collapse at top of big chute. This collapse occurred below the most recent snow(this location has seen several loading events from wind prior to last weeks snow). The collapse propagated 100ish feet, basically the entire start zone of big chute. This collapse didn’t avalanche, but it did release a wind slab on furthest skiers left edge.
Photos:
