Date of Observation: 04/12/2022
Name: Evan Ross Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Mt Axtell, Northerly, 9,500ft to 11,500ft
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: In steep terrain near 40 degrees the new snow sluffed easily. Several natural loose snow avalanches in similar terrain. A few small pockets produced a very small slab. All avalanche activity was small in size.
Weather: This was an afternoon tour. Accumulating snowfall continued through the afternoon with a few breaks of clearing weather. Down valley winds were transporting snow, but we were hanging out in mostly wind sheltered areas.
Snowpack: 6 to 7 inches of new snow on average with some settlement through the day with the periods of sun popping out. On NE and E facing terrain the new snow was more noticeably thick and settling quicker. On steep due north facing terrain the riding conditions were the best with a deeper and dryer feel. No real slab avalanche problems were encountered in this mostly wind-sheltered terrain, and loose dry avalanches were the primary problem. Those avalanches were predictable and relatively easy to manage.
Photos:-
- A sluff
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- Multiple loose snow avalanches piled up where they funneled together.
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- Steep due north at 11,500ft. Dry new snow capping a thin crust over a thin layer of facets. Not enough snow here for a slab avalanche problem.
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- Sluffs
