Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 01/08/2019
Name: Evan Ross
Subject: Night and Day difference in 24hr
Aspect: North East, East, South, South West
Elevation: 9,400-11,500
Avalanches:
Baldy 1x Natural, ATL S, R1-D2
Baldy 1x Natural, ATL SE, R1-D2
Gothic Mountain 1x natural, SW ATL R2-D2.5
Gothic Mountain 2x natural, SW ATL R2-D2
Augusta Mountain 1x natural, ATL SE R1-D2. (Estimated from a far distance).
Mineral Point Natural 1x natural, ATL E R1-D2 (Estimated from a far distance).
Mt Emmons 1x Natural, ATL SE R2-D2
Long Lake area 1x Natural, BTL NE R3-D2
Long Lake area 2x Natural, BTL NE R2-D2
Weather: Few clouds and light winds. No blowing snow observed. Sun was warming the snow surface on southerly facing slopes.
Snowpack: Night and day difference since yesterday. Yesterday I found shooting cracks everywhere failing in the storm snow, today on a lot of different slopes and some of the same slopes I only saw maybe two small slopes that produced some shooting cracks. These still appeared to have failed at the storm snow instability. Slice, diced, ripped and teared many slopes with very few sings to instability. These slopes where on many aspects, some wind-loaded, some not, but all generally small in size. Given the depth of the new slab, the compressive support of this size of slope may have played a role.
At 11,000ft storm accumulations were about 45cm. This slab was 4F at its base in sheltered areas. ATL SW facing slopes where the most blown out looking. Though there was still a number of crowns on that aspect. SE and W aspects had some great examples of cross-loading to give you pause. Other lee aspects were definitely looking thick and loaded. The weak layers under this slab already look difficult to effect from the weight of a skier, but the avalanche size wouldn’t be something you want to get caught up in.
SE at 11,200ft. 30 degree slope with a vertical HS of 145cm. ECTN M results at the storm instability, ECTP result on +30 taps below the Santa Slab on 1mm rounding facets above the crust.
Photos:
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