Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/20/2018
Name: Ben Pritchett & Jeff Deems
Subject: Anthracites avalanches from a week ago
Aspect:
Elevation: 10,000 to 12,000′
Avalanches:
Several old avalanches from Jan 11-13 period:
Below 7 Bowl x 3, Northwest Bowl, Playground x 3, ridge that divides Floresta and Bracken, Ohio Peak SE face.
Weather: Approaching weather. Convective showers started around 11am, under a strong south flow. No significant accumulation or wind transport until around 3pm.
Snowpack: North through east aspects were settled and quiet, topped with large and durable surface hoar (up to 3cm). HS averaged 110.
On southerly aspects found thick slick melt-freeze crusts up to 11,500′, thin zipper sun crust observed from 11,500 – 12,000′.
No cracking, collapsing or fresh avalanches.
Photos:
crown profile above NW bowl slide
very broad crown, estimated ~1,200′ wide
North end of the crown in NW bowl
D2 on SE aspect off Ohio Peak
Broad avalanche in relatively low angled terrain
the largest of 3 D2’s in the Playground
looking across at the Northwest bowl avalanche
Large durable SH (3cm)
D1.5 on small slope below 7 bowl
Surface Hoar, in most open slopes on Northwest to East aspects up to 11,500′