Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 04/17/2019
Name: Eric Murrow
Subject: Ruby range wet snow and a lil bit of dry snow left
Aspect: North, North East, East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 9,200′ – 12, 700′
Avalanches: A few old previously reported Wind Slabs, numerous D1 and D1.5 wet loose from Sunday or Monday on sunny slopes near and above treeline. Of note though were 4 good sized cornice failures, that had little to no refill from this past weekends storm, which makes me believe that they likely failed on Monday from warm temps with clear, sunny skies – see photos
Weather: Cloud cover varied from partly to mostly cloudy during the day with moderate amounts of solar warming the snow. Winds were generally light with occasional moderate gusting above treeline blowing from the NW. A few thicker clouds spit out a few snowflakes but not enough to call it a dusting. Air temps were fairly mild pushing close to freezing mark at treeline.
Snowpack: Very little dry snow remains – above treeline due north. Terrain that faced due north at about 11,700ish feet had a thin temperature crust at the surface – exciting breaker crust skiing. Slopes that face NE above treeline up to 12,300′ became moist down to the 4/12 interface and produced small roller balls around noon – tried to get a wet loose slough on this terrain but conditions were not quite wet enough. Did not travel through much southerly above treeline terrain.
Skied through SSW near and below treeline terrain around 3pm and found around 4 inches of wet snow sitting on top of a supportive, still frozen crust. Was able to get a few roller balls going on this terrain, but no wet loose avalanches. It sure feels like we need a prolonged or dramatic warm up to get significant wet loose activity going again – feeling very spring-like on sunny slopes even in the afternoon with decent solar input.
Photos:
