Date of Observation: 12/23/2022
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: HWY 135 avalanche obs on Whetstone
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Three natural avalanches from the wind event above treeline.
Weather:
Snowpack:
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane:
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Drifted easterly areas on X Chute and Lucky Boy Summit. Lucky Boy slide maybe have been a step down. Post slide wind erosion obscured the evidence
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane:
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: “Martini Glass” – fish bowl – thing on lookers right side of Lucky Boy Basin beneath the high point.
