Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/15/2019
Name: Steve Banks
Subject: Kebler Pass Area
Aspect: North, North East, South East, South
Elevation: 10,200-12,000
Avalanches:
Some new, small loose avalanches noted from steep, sunny rocky terrain. Lots of older, mostly filled in crowns noted in the Ruby Range, Anthracites area, Scarp Ridge and Gothic Peaks. These looked in the D3 range with wide propagation and failing mid slope, below corniced ridges and in odd places.
Weather: Sunny! Cold morning temps were off set by strong solar radiation. Clam winds all day even on top of Scarp Ridge
Snowpack: Soft snow over a very supportive pack. Solar aspects becoming moist by midday. Probing showed consistently more than 280 cms of snow on the ground with a homogenous feeling pack down to 180/190 cms. Below this level the snow felt a bit weaker. A quick test profile down 130 cms showed Fist hardness in the top 10 cms, progressing quickly to 1Finger and Pencil to Pencil Plus harness down in the 130-140 cms below the surface. No notable layers were found in the upper snowpack.
Ski penetration was about 10 cms and boot penetration 40 cms. The skiing was very supportive and fun. New crusts will be found on sunny aspects tomorrow.
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