Date of Observation: 02/08/2023
Name: Zach Kinler and Evan Ross
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Cement Creek trailhead up the looker’s left ridge of Horse Basin to Cement Mountain.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Spotted 1 large persistent slab avalanche in the upper Hunter Creek drainage on a South aspect above treeline, likely running in the last 24 hours. This slope has a very large fetch and has been loading during our recent NW winds.
Weather: Overall a fairly cold day with intermittent clouds and sun. Winds were generally light but moderate gusts began around 1:00 pm.
Snowpack: No signs of instability underfoot from valley bottom to the ridgeline and on a few drifted slopes near treeline while skinning and stomping. Snowpack depths ranged from 70cm at the lowest elevations to 130 cm at 11,700. The slab below treeline is mostly faceted with just enough support to hold up the boots. Above 11,000′ the midpack has a bit of 1 finger slab with the upper 60cm faceted. The early season weak layer at the bottom of the snowpack is 4 fingers and rounding. A profile on a slightly drifted east aspect at 11,700′ produced no results twice and failed on the isolation of the column once. The latter result was a bit surprising, not something I would expect to find across the majority of the terrain.
-
- A large recent avalanche on a drifted South facing slope near Star pass.
-
- Profile, East aspect near treeline.
