Elkton avalanches

Date of Observation: 01/02/2023
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Traveled on various aspects off of Elkton Knob, most commonly on west and southwest below treeline.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: The Elkton area saw a decent D2 cycle over the weekend on many steep slopes, various aspects. Soft slabs were generally 2 to 3 feet thick, failing on mid-December facets. In contrast, the Purple Palace area appeared to be relatively quiet during the cycle, perhaps because of Arctic Blast wind effects on the weak layer there. I stomped around on top of a couple of small, steep slopes and triggered one persistent slab that was 3 feet thick (4F) over fist hard 1mm facets on a west facing slope. There was also evidence of avalanche activity earlier in the storm on Baldy, Purple Ridge, and Schuylkill Ridge. Light was too flat to see much else.
Weather: Light snow showers on and off through the day, with bouts of sunshine too. Light to moderate ridgetop winds with blowing snow off of Mt. Baldy.
Snowpack: Fairly quiet while breaking trail and skinning. We got one collapse and chatted with another group in the same area that got several large collapses and shooting cracks. Slabs are consolidating and ski pen is now ankle deep, making for good turns on the low angle.