Date of Observation: 12/18/2016
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: South West
Elevation: 9600-11000
Avalanches: See photos. Plenty of evidence of widespread natural avalanche cycle that ended Saturday morning. The most widespread activity was above treeline on leeward or crossloaded slopes, ranging from D2 to D3 in size. Most of the “frequent flyers” below treeline (Happy Chutes, Gibson Ridge, Meridian Lake, etc) held tight except for smaller storm slab action.
Weather: Cold, clear, calm.
Snowpack: 40 cm of F+ storm snow below treeline on SW aspect, on a thin crust. Easy, propagating test results on a mid-storm density difference. We got a few minor collapses while breaking trail below treeline, and one large collapse as we reached more of a near treeline elevation at ~11,000 ft.
Climax Chutes. NE aspect NTL.
Scarp Ridge. NE aspect ATL
Wolverine Basin. NE aspect ATL
Mt. Axtell. NE aspect ATL
Gothic Peak. SSW aspect ATL
Mt. Baldy. SE aspect ATL
Coon Basin. SE aspect ATL
Washington Gulch. E aspect BTL. Snowplow triggered?
Nordic hill. NE aspect (skier triggered?)
Skier triggered slide on Red Lady Bowl. SE aspect ATL
SW aspect BTL.
Redwell Basin. N/NE aspects ATL
Purple Peak. East aspect ATL
Purple Ridge and Purple Peak. NE aspects ATL
Schuylkill Peak. NE aspect ATL.