Date of Observation: 02/14/2021
Name: Jared Berman, Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Location: Pony Tail Glades /Coon Basin
Aspect: East, South
Elevation: 9200′-12,000′
Avalanches: Eight large to very large avalanches observed on mostly alpine terrain on south, southeast, west, northwest, and north aspects. See photos below.
Weather: Overcast skies that later cleared by late afternoon. Light winds from the NW at 12,000ft. No snow transportation observed at ridgetops.
Snowpack: New storm snow since Wednesday ranged from 8″ below treeline to 24″ near and above treeline. Although winds were calm last night, above treeline we could see pillows of previously wind drifted snow below ridgelines on easterly facing terrain. No cracking or collapsing was observed on any aspect we traveled on today. By late afternoon, snow surfaces below treeline on southerly aspects became moist with a thin breakable sun crust on steeper slopes.
Photos:
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- Gorgeous light and cloud cover late afternoon
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- South Bowl of Baldy with crown visible on southeast, crossloaded feature and flowing debris. Crown on south-facing part of South Bowl obscured.
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- Image of South Bowl on Baldy with evidence of two separate crowns. See other photo for debris track with crowns obscured in clouds.
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- Somewhat drifted over crown on near treeline, southeast-facing feature on Red Ridge above East River
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- Broad and deep avalanche on southeast terrain on Peeler Peak
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- Recent large avalanche on a west-facing near treeline slope of Cement Mountain.
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- Two avalanches – one near deer creek trail on south aspect near treeline and a deeper avalanche behind on southwest slope of Teocalli Mountain
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- Several fresh debris piles on southeast slopes of Pearl Mountain
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- Deep crowns on north and northwest gullies of Whetstone. Failed in past 24 hours.
