Avalanches: SS-AE-R2-D2-O/G – Peach Pit (right, NE)
SS-AE-R2-D2-O/G – Wolf’s Lair (left, NE)
SS-AE-R1-D1-O – Jack in the Box Glades.
SS-AE-R1-D1-O/G – Wolf’s Lair (south exit, SE)
Weather: Cold, light winds, mostly clear.
Snowpack: 11,600′-11,900′ – 10-15 cm cracking in upper, new snow layers w/ thrown 2# hand charges through Main Street, Coffey Grounds, and Fran’s Blend.

11,550′ – Peach Pit, 4# air-blast triggered SS-AE-R2-D2-O/G with propagation through potential ‘safe zone.’ Ski-cutting of this path before recent storm cycle had produced R1-D1 failures. (IMG_7182)

Jack in the Box Glades – observed storm cycle, natural activity (full track) in area flanked by on both sides by previous explosive testing. 2# hand charges resulted in SS-AE-R1-D1-O. Generally soft and un-cohesive new snow on weak, faceted grains in this zone.

11,300′ – Wolf’s Lair (left, NE) Last 2# shot of 1st pass produced SS-AE-R2-D2-O/G (IMG_7189). Chose different egress. Subsequent shots on 2nd pass resulted in similar R1/R2-D1/D2 failures on NE – SE aspects. (IMG_7197-(SE), IMG_7198-(NE). “Tender” Extensive collapsing and cracking with travel throughout this zone.

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IMG_7189

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Weather: Wind was generally calm with a light breeze at times. Clear sky. Temps felt like they where in the upper 20’s but didn’t measure.
Snowpack: Last weeks storm snow continues to settle and set up. Ski pen was about 30cm across all slopes traveled. At 11,200ft, SE, 28 slope, boot pen was 50cm, old storm snow 60cm and HS 75cm. Collapsing is becoming more stubborn. Either from lots of jumping or when folks take their skis off and wallow around. Still observed numerous large collapse throughout the day.

Slopes near 30 degrees had a thin zipper crust in places by afternoon.

Avalanches: Another old avalanche from last weeks cycle that didn’t seem to be previously reported In Wolverine. R1D2

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Avalanches: there was a lot of evidence of steeper angle pitches having slid before this last storm. no new avalanches were observed.
Weather: Bluebird
Snowpack: About 15 inches of fresh cold powder on top of unconsolidated powder from previous storm. Lots of whoomphing.

Avalanches:
Weather:
Snowpack:

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Avalanches: Evidence of avalanches, but generally snowed and drifted in. Avalanche cycle was widespread, and if wind loading continues could see another round of avalanches. We quite worried about remote triggering potential all day, and didnt travel in terrain much steeper than 28º all day.
Weather: Clear skies, cold temps (12ºF), strong radiation and SE-E-NE-N winds in the progession as the day went on.
Snowpack: Thunderous collapses constantly all day, some violent and rattling twigs of snow. 8-10″ settlement cones, active light the moderate snow transport from the E-NE. Shooting cracks ~50ft, but rumbling collapses went much further. 2, ECT tests produced propagating results from 17 and 22 taps, sudden collapse

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Avalanches: Nothing new that hasn’t been reported, except a skier triggered slide on the hill above the Nordic Center. See photo
Weather: Clear to few skies. Cold temps, Light to moderate NE winds with light transport off of high peaks.
Snowpack: Rumbling collapses when I would jump on the snowpack after getting away from the skin track.

Intentionally (?) skier triggered slab avalanche above Nordic Center.  SS-ASc-R2-D1.5-O

Avalanches: See photo. Remotely triggered this slope while skiing on flat road. Downhill side of the Snodgrass road near “panorama point”.
Weather:
Snowpack:

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Avalanches: The only piece of avalanche terrain that we came across had slid naturally. NE aspect below treeline that ran before last night’s snowfall. 2-3 feet deep, on basal facet layer. SS-N-R2-D2-O. Partial clearing in the p.m. revealed what looked like several new slides near Red Ridge/ White Rock area, coming off of SW or S aspects above treeline. Debris piles were ~D2 in size, crowns obscured by clouds.
Weather: Light snowfall, with a couple of inches of accumulation by mid day. Winds began increasing around noon, with moderate gusts and blowing snow below treeline. Overcast skies began clearing to broken later in the day.
Snowpack: ~6″ of new snow overnight. Persistent slab was noticeably denser from settlement compared to my tour 12/23 on Anthracite Mesa, more supportive on skis, 5-10″ settlement cones. Collapses were fewer in frequency, but louder and longer running. SCARY. Often it would take jumping on the snowpack to initiate collapses, whereas 2 days ago they were going while simply ski touring. Structure was consistent across all terrain, about 30″ of slab, increasing in hardness with depth, over hollow facets.