Another slope bites the dust

Date of Observation: 12/10/2022
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Snowmobiled out to Upper Cement and skied near Hunter Hill and Timbered Hill up to 12,300′ traveling on various aspects.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: The southeast face of Castle Peak has a fresh crown that appears to be triggered today by a very small dribbler from a cornice. We did not see the slide on yesterday’s flight and flew right by it. Documenting a few other persistent slabs that ran sometime in the past few days that we missed because of the flight route, flat light, or maybe one ran after our flight.
Weather: Rapid warming, from near zero temps this morning to near-freezing temps mid-day. Light ridgetop winds and mostly clear skies.
Snowpack: Below treeline continues to produce fairly frequent collapses. Once we gained elevation to near treeline, the slabs get noticeably thicker and harder, and collapses became less common. We would occasionally trigger one from near a tree or on the margin of a drift. Test results on a NTL east-facing slope produced hard, propagating results on 2-3mm F+ facets below a 75 cm slab up to 1F. HS ranges from 60 cm near the bottom of Waterfall Trail (9,800′), to 90 cm just below Friends Hut (11,000′). Snow surfaces got moist or wet today on sunny aspects to at least 11,800′ and produced a few rollerballs.