Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/06/2019
Name: Eric Murrow
Subject: storm snow piling up
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West
Elevation: 9,200′ – 10,600′
Avalanches:
Numerous natural D1 storm slabs running within the storm snow. Above Kebler TH there was a D2 Persistent Slab that i would guess failed on the 2/28 interface on a SE aspect in the steep gully just below the RL skin track – roughly 3 feet deep crown. Two D1 avalanches on crossloaded SW facing features.
Weather: Consistent snow all day with s1 to s3 snow during the day. New snow mostly rimed PP transitioning to graupel by afternoon. Winds out of the SW were light with moderate gusting in AM, around 1PM winds picked up to moderate speeds with strong gusting. Lots of transport observed in the afternoon from SWerly winds. New snow total reached 13″ at 4pm. Snow was thick and became top heavy in the afternoon from warming temps and graupel precip.
Snowpack: Density change in storm snow was apparent from numerous hasty hand tests. Lots of sloughing with minimal cracking and propagation in new snow in the sheltered terrain we traveled.
Photos: