Date of Observation: 01/03/2023
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Broken sled retrieval mission out Washington Gulch to Elkton
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Ski triggered a pair of small slabs in the new snow on a drifted rollover, about 12” thick. Vis was too poor to see much avalanche terrain.
Weather: Snowing heavily through most of the day. Elkton had about 14” of fluffy snow by midday. Coneys area had about 8” to 10”. Light to moderate winds near treeline with periods of significant blowing snow.
Snowpack: Stability test below treeline near the boundary of our two forecast zones produced hard, propagating results in depth hoar (F) under a 120 cm soft slab.
Photos:
-
-
Snow totals in the past 12 hours near Elkton = Awesome
-
-
Blowing snow near treeline
-
-
A pair of skier triggered soft slabs on a drifted rollover
-
-
Depth hoar layer produced propagating results in pit.
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Washington Gulch (Elkton, Coneys, Meridian Lake)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Skier
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Within storm snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D1- Relatively harmless to people
Avg. crown height (inches): 12
Avg. width (feet): 20’
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments:
Estimated avalanche date: 01/01/2023
Number of Avalanches: 3
Location
Location: Mount Whetstone
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Across 135 from Brush Creek turnoff on Whetstone
5836
