Observer: Ross (Irwin Guides)
Date: 12/10/14
Location: Redwell Basin
Elevation: 12400-8900
Aspect: N
Weather: Sunny mid 30’s no precip or wind, strong solar

Snowpack/Avalanche Obs: From Kebler trail head the snow pack is thin and variable. On the south and south west aspects there is a sun crust that is somewhat supportable. Snow depths range from 10 to 20cm. Still powdery in the shaded areas. As you gain in elevation the snow depth increases with moist surface snow on sunny south facing aspects. At higher elevations 11500 wind scouring has reduced snow amounts to 10cm. Pockets of drifted snow exists in sheltered areas.

Redwell basin at 12300 has a week faceted snowpack especially around the rock bands. A slight wind crust exists at higher elevations and decreases as you drop in elevation. Snow depths range from 30cm to 50cm. No instabilities seen. At lower elevations the snow pack is week and shallow and through the waterfall section of redwell stumps and rocks are covered by 20cm of week faceted snow. At the bottom of redwell……its damm scary!!

Date of Observation: November 24, 2014
Location: Kebler Pass Area
Aspect (N/S/E/W, etc.): N-NE
Elevation: 9800-11400

Returned to the same zone as yesterday, see WD’s report from 11/23. An additional three inches or so and evidence of strong wind activity overnight. Observed some whoomphing and cracking at the top of the skin track on the ridge where there was lots of wind deposition. Pit at the top of the line we skied confirmed the additional three inches up high. Storm snow was still unconsolidated but ran easily on the old surface, we expected to see loose snow sluffing. Entire pack failed on the ground facets with considerable force. No signs of instability on decent of that line. On the second run wrapping around toward exit trees we observed lots of wind loading and a very defined wind slab of 6 inches or so which failed easily on rollovers.