Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/01/2017
Name: Ian Havlick
Date of Observation: 02/01/2017
Name: Ian Havlick
Subject: Independence Basin Avalanche/Obs
Aspect: East, South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 10,000-12,000
Aspect: East, South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 10,000-12,000
Avalanches: HS-N-R2-D2-O. Unknown trigger, possibly natural overnight or remote skier triggered this morning. Ran on slick P+ suncrust and small grained facets above. 150ft wide, running ~500 vertical feet. 34º slope, ESE facing Near/Above treeline.
Weather: Decreasing winds during the day, mild temperatures with high of 36º at 10,000ft. Rapid warm up this morning, but high clouds put a lid on high temps around 1400.
Snowpack: Continued wind loading, hard slabs throughout near and above treelike terrain. Pretty wind hammered. Hard slabs no deeper than 40cm in terrain travelled. HS 280-320cm.
gives and idea of wind texture at ridge top from 3 days of steady west winds
view from just above fracture line.
fracture line blown in, ski tracks visible in upper right corner.