Date of Observation: 11/04/2022
Name: Zach Guy and Zach Kinler
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Mt. Bellview to 12,200′, on east and south aspects.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A few harmless (D1) slides that started from above treeline on Gothic and Baldy. Couldn’t discern if they were soft slabs or loose avalanches because of flat light.
Weather: A mix of clouds and sun. Moderate northerly winds were drifting snow at ridgetop onto southerly aspects.
Snowpack: Storm total was about 6″, not enough to cause any real concerns in wind sheltered terrain. Wind effects were fairly minor as we gained elevation: fresh cornices at ridgetop were sensitive but small, with very small pockets of soft slab releasing below. Total snow depth increased to about 2 feet deep near/above treeline. The storm interface transitions from small facets (on shadier aspects) to a melt-freeze crust (on sunnier aspects) right around due East (90*).
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- Wind drifting from today’s northerly winds on Mt. Bellview
