Date of Observation: 01/19/2022
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Poking around down in the south end of the valley at 12,000ft, NW facing slope
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: Calm , Cold
Snowpack: 120cm snowpack Slight Wind Effect up high. Surface Faceting down lower around 9500ft
Date of Observation: 01/18/2022
Name: Josh Jones
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: From Snodgrass up the S-SE side of Redrock up and over to Queens Basin. Then return on Copper Creek.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: Old activity from previous cycle. Old buried debris on the N couloir on Redrock Mountain.
Weather: Calm, fluctuating sky-cover throughout the day.
Snowpack: Observed stable conditions on all aspects of the compass. Still practiced safe regrouping practices. Unsupportive snow found on previously loaded ridge-tops near rocky outcroppings. Previously avalanched north facing gullies left firm, barely edge-able snow. Inconsistent crusts found on all aspects, less predictable on northerly slopes. Favorable riding conditions found in NW facing sheltered terrain below treeline.
Date of Observation: 01/18/2022
Name: Whitney Gilliam
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Axtell 5th Bowl (Green Lake)
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Previously undocumented hard slab avalanche off of the E/NE side of 5th bowl. Crushed Green Lake.
Date of Observation: 01/16/2022
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Top of Coon to Red Lady Basin, Redwell to OBJ; OBJ to Schuylkill via the west side; Birthday back to the car. 9,000-12,000 feet & most aspects.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: All old crowns, but lots of them.
Weather: Cold to start, but warming quickly throughout the day. Light N winds that decreased throughout the day.
Snowpack: A little bit of everything. A bit crusty, but OK (assertive) skiing on SE & SW aspects. N and NE aspects had some punchy, wind-affected snow, but most of the textured snow skied really well. Felt like a spring tour today.
Date of Observation: 01/15/2022
Name: Alan Bernholtz
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Hiked the west ridge and skied the northeast summit bowl
Observed avalanche activity: No
Weather: Clear skies, moderate temperatures and moderate winds near and above tree line out of the north north east at 25mph estimated.
Snowpack: Near and above tree line was wind pressed and textured snow surface. Variable depths depending on terrain features. Protected lower elevation areas was boot top creamy snow with near surface facettes. We did not see any signs of instability or recent avalanche activity.
Date of Observation: 01/15/2022
Name: D K
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Snodgrass to East river bottom. Up Redrock subridge and back to Snodgrass TH via Gothic and Snodgrass.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: One unreported slide on E face BTL @ 9200′. Older crown from the holiday storm. Glide crack has developed in bed surface since.
Weather: Bluebird. Wind kicked up NTL
Snowpack: Breaker suncrusts on all southern half slopes traveled up to 11500′. Slopes on northern half were sloughing in steeper terrain where sheltered from yesterday’s wind.
Date of Observation: 01/13/2022
Name: Jack Caprio
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Wolverine to climax
Observed avalanche activity: No
Weather: Sunny and warm. Light winds
Snowpack: HS in Wolverine basin averaged around 220 cms. HS in wind affected areas near ridge line was much less ~1 meter. Snow surfaces above treeline in NNW terrain consisted of 5-10 cm of punchy wind slab. Unreactive to ski cuts but decreased ski quality. Bummer.
Wind protected areas below treeline on steep shady slopes provided great near surface facet surfing.
Date of Observation: 01/13/2022
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Rec tour on Owen. NE to E to SE aspects up to 13,000 ft
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Nothing new. A couple of previously undocumented slides from the last cycle; could only see debris piles. Details below.
Weather: Increasing thin clouds. Warm temps, light winds.
Snowpack: We assessed 2” to 4” hard wind drifted slabs near ridgetop that appeared to be bonding well; unreactive to ski cuts. No signs of instability in steep terrain. Surfaces are wind affected above treeline after yesterday’s winds.
Date of Observation: 01/13/2022
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: 9,000-12,000 E & NE aspects.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Weather: Sunny & warm, hot actually, with no wind.
Snowpack: ATL, E aspect had some wind-effect, but soft snow could be found with a little sniffing around. BTL, NE aspect was creamy & dreamy. 25-30cm settlement cones around the aspens. Evidence of past avalanche activity is becoming harder to discern.
Date of Observation: 01/12/2022
Name: Jeff Banks
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: 4 days at Opa’s/Taylor Pass zone from Ashcroft trailhead.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: 3 x D1.5’s from ~Friday/Saturday on SE-S ridgecrests ~40º
~D2.5/D3 on Ski Hayden same time frame
Weather: Today, Clear with strong N winds NTL & ATL.
Opa’s hut 11,800 was dusted with windblown snow this AM & impressive Plumes on the high peaks >12K.
Snowpack: Thin & highly variable, compared to closer to CB. NTL & ATL, Lot’s of willows & old road cuts showing
Just Localized collapses under foot- no further propagation while passing over willows, over 4 days of touring.
NTL/ATL: Highly Variable to local wind patterns, many slopes blown to gravel or big wind drifted pillows.
N BTL @ 11,500: HS 140cm in forest w/o wind effect. Sugar at the ground w/ Fist resistance.
photos @12,200 on Little Italian pass & M&M chutes
Photos:
