Date of Observation: 02/12/2023
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Schuylkill Peak area to 11,800’ on SE to NE aspects.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A small cornice fall in the past 24 hours. Minor skier triggered sluffs in extreme terrain.
Weather: Cloud cover decreased mid morning. Mild temps. Calm winds.
Snowpack: No signs of instability or evidence of avalanche problems. 1cm of low density snow fell last night without wind, which could facet or be a layer of concern with the next storm. Below that, surfaces are generally DF’s or wind packed rounds in wind affected terrain, some small grained faceting in wind sheltered northerly terrain, and melt freeze crusts on anything on the south half of the compass. Very steep and rocky terrain has weaker and more developed facets, occasionally unsupportive to boot or ski pen.
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- A recent cornice fall
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- With low density new snow above a crust, I would expect some faceting to develop on slopes that don’t get too cooked.
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- Low density new snow on the surface
