Date of Observation: 03/07/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Lower Brush Creek
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: nothing new observed
Weather: Thin high clouds reduced throughout the day. Mild air temps above the freezing mark. Moderate SW winds with some strong gusts.
Snowpack: Traveled through below treeline slopes close to valley bottom with depths ranging from 70cm on south up to 120cm on northerly aspects. Southerly aspects have thick melt/freeze crusts at the surface that soften and lost support to skis but remained intact preventing Wet Loose avalanches concerns from developing. On south and southeast slopes melt water has yet to reach the ground (did not dig on southwest). I was surprised to get moderate propagating test results at two locations on northeast-facing terrain (see images). Early season facets at the base of the snowpack remain weak with just enough slab cohesion for propagation.
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- A quick look at the snowpack on a low elevation southeast slope near valley bottom. Liquid water from surface melt has not fully drained through the snowpack.
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- Propagating test results on basal facets. Slab is about a meter thick (3 feet).
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- Second location with moderate propagating results on basal facets.
