Axtell

CB Avalanche Center2014-15 Observations

LOCATION: Kebler Pass Area
DATE OF OBSERVATION: 02/14/2015
NAME: Havlick
SUBJECT: Axtell
ASPECT: N, NE, SE, S, NW
ELEVATION: 9400-11500

AVALANCHES: none. small facet sluff behind 3rd skier.

WEATHER: warm, light NW breeze for evaporative cooling, occasional saltation of facets across snow surface. Measured 47ºF during lunch at 1400hrs at Green Lake.

SNOWPACK: AVALANCHE / SNOWPACK OBS: Interesting and terrifying snowpack structure on N-facing apron below north facing aprons. Dug mid apron and found 10mm SH, 45cm deep, below P-1F hard slabs, with P+ bed surface. Almost pulled plug right there, but continued skintrack traverse, spread out, had guests turn music off they were listening to, and continued 30m to windbuff and old debris, with no SH. Within wider coulior, snow remained turned-able, and pretty much F+ facets to ground. Wallow-fest. South facing slope, climbing back out was punchy and unconsolidated until you hit crusts 30cm deep and several more a but deeper. Wet, mature corn grains on surface. If not for various crusts, and old sled tracks, would have been more spooked.