Date of Observation: 03/28/2023
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from Carbonate Hill and Slate River Road.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Large persistent slab (D2.5) on the SE side of Schuylkill Ridge ran this afternoon during the warmup. A handful of D1-D2 wind slabs in the Ruby Range that likely ran yesterday or overnight. A slab on East Beckwith (NE ATL) broke near the ground on a steep, shallow, rocky slope, sometime in the past 48 hours.
Photos:
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Large persistent slab ran today on Schuylkill Ridge. SE aspect.
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East Beckwith. Slab looks like it broke near the ground on a shallow, rocky slope.
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Wind slabs on Afley
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Wind slabs on Owen, Peeler, etc.
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Wind slab, Redwell Basin
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Old slides from the 3/22 storm.
Estimated avalanche date: 03/28/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Schuylkill Ridge
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: SE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Did not see avalanche while looking at this slope this morning, likely warming triggered this afternoon. Looks like it ran on 3/20 crust. Couldn’t see runout but given the large entrainment potential, guessing this was a D2.5.
Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Beckwith Range
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
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: East Beckwith. Viewed from afar, estimated failur date. Looks like it broke on rocks in a steep, shallow area.
Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Peeler Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger:
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D1- Relatively harmless to people
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Wind slabs. Peeler Peak and Garfield Peak. E/NE
Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Oh-Be-Joyful Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: SE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D1.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Wind slab. Afley/OBJ saddle.
Estimated avalanche date: 03/27/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Mt. Emmons
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D1- Relatively harmless to people
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Wind slab. Redwell Basin
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