Name: Alan Bernholtz
Title: Anthracite Surface Hoar
Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/09/2015
Elevation: BTL

Uploads:

Name: Irwin Guides (CBMG)
Title: Washington Gulch
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/08/2015
Aspect: North East, East, South East
Elevation: 9500-11000

WEATHER: Clear skies, hot in the sun, no wind in valley, light winds from NW on ridge top.

Snowpack: SNOWPACK/AVALANCHE OBS: Huge surface hoar growth from valley floor to ridge top. Overall snowpack very weak and unconsolidated. HS average of 60cm valley floor and 120cm at ridge top. Lots of big collapses observed on bottom 1/2 of terrain both on up track and on egress out. These seemed to become widespread and predictable the minute the snowpack structure lacked any cohesive ‘mid-pack’. Upper 1/3 of terrain was characterized by a snowpack structure that was slightly more supportive with ski pen about 20cm. Here quick test profile pits revealed a small (15cm thick) 4F+/1F- hard layer about 40cm below the surface capping the Dec 13th interface and the basal facets. Hand shear tests and compression tests both showed moderate failures on the basal facets directly below this layer The middle 1/3 is the scary tapering thickness persistent slab problem pointed out in CBAC report (0-15cm thick) where skier triggering is likely to occur.

Uploads:

Name: Ian Havlick
Title: Park Cone near Taylor Reservior
Location: Cement Creek Area
Date of Observation: 01/08/2015
Aspect: North, North East
Elevation: 9400-11600

Avalanches: only avalanches observed were D1.5 WL slides across SE-S-SW facing slopes across Collegiates and off Matchless Mtn. All originated in steep, rocky or krumholtzy terrain.

Weather: Clear, calm, mild.

Snowpack: Snowpack depth varied from ~65cm to 155cm in wind loaded areas near treeline. Constant collapsing as we broke trail all day. Every step would collapse between the TH at 9400 til we broke onto more open, wind effected slopes near treeline. Some collapses were booming, and rolling, many were localized around each ski. Treebombed snow surfaces added support and structure and helped ascent. Many times ski pen would be 10-15cm, then suddenly drop knee deep into the snowpack…example of variable structure and slab.

Uploads:

• 20150108BTLParkConePitProfile.pdf
• 20150108NTLParkConePitProfile.pdf

Name: John lewis
Title: Small sluff slide on death pass
Location: Brush Creek Area
Date of Observation: 01/07/2015
Aspect: South East, South
Elevation: 9300

Avalanches: Small sluff slide maybe 5 foot wide and 30 feet long. Slide down to the ground.

Weather: Blue skies

Snowpack: Soft snow, warming snow, surface hoar on some areas

Uploads:

Title: Snodgrass Snow Study Plot
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/07/2015
Aspect: North East
Elevation:

Avalanches:

Weather:

Snowpack: Multiple whumps on tour out, all when ski pen was 10-15 cm on leeward rolls often near buried vegetation. Ski pen up to 45 cm n many places on open/fetch slopes.

Uploads:

Snodgrassplot20150107

Name: Gary Dotzler
Title: Wet slide
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/07/2015
Aspect: South
Elevation: 11,500-10,000

Avalanches: This’s so a wet slide that probably came down 1/6/15 in the copper creek drainage. Might have been a bit scary watching this come down as we are standing on the trail. Hot today, 40f, and yesterday when it probably slid it was a record high at 42f. Cliff side looked like spring instead of dead winter, with numerous wet slide evidence.

Weather: Clear, 40f

Snowpack: Clumpy snow, occasional collaspe

Uploads:

image4

Name: Gary Dotzler
Title: Deer triggered avalanche
Location: Crested Butte Area
Date of Observation: 01/07/2015
Aspect: North
Elevation: 10000

Avalanches: Found this small slide about a mile from Gothic townsite on copper creek. North facing about 30 ft across. Only ran 30 ft to the creek. What is interesting about it is it was most likely triggered by a couple mule deer (we found some scat to confirm).

Weather: Clear, 40F

Snowpack:

Uploads:

image2

image3

Name: Zach Guy
Title: Irwin Tenure
Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/07/2015
Aspect: West
Elevation: 11,400 ft

Avalanches:

Weather: High of 42F at 10,000 ft. Few clouds, calm winds.

Snowpack: Snow profile dug in an undisturbed area, west facing slope near treeline showed a rounding snowpack, with a mix of propagating and non-propagating results in the facet layer below the Nov 22 crust in PST and ECTs. Dec 13th facet layer showing significant improvements, not reactive in any stability tests. Surface was a mix of wind crusts and melt freeze crusts.

Uploads:

20150107-UWW-Sunset-Glade