Date of Observation: 01/28/2023
Name: Irwin Guides
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Irwin Tenure
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Widespread Touchy Storm Slabs to D1 near and below TL
Weather: OVC, Hi 17/8, WSW 10-25 g30-50, S-1 to S2
Snowpack: Widespread Touchy Storm Slabs reflective of our 16″ HST plus or minus wind transport, limited to D1 in size. There was significant wind transport near and above TL.
Date of Observation: 01/28/2023
Name: Andrew Breibart
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Washington Gulch to Coneys via normal skin track.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Weather: Moderate to strong winds from the west on the ridge with snow transport into first bowl and second bowl. In the lower 1/3 of the slope and in the valley bottom, moderate downslope winds with blowing snow. Intermittent periods of S1 snowfall. Wind was the main cause of changes in snow depth and texture. skies were obstructed which precluded the ability to observe avalanche activity.
Snowpack: skin track snow depth: 30 cm (12) inches in the lower part of the skin track and up to 53 cm (21) inches below the ridge on a leeward slope.
summit ridge snow depth: above convex corner was about 25 cm (10 inches) and approximately 10 cm (4 inches) above first bowl.
Date of Observation: 01/28/2023
Name: Frank Stern
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Red Lady Glades
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: SSE aspect, 11,000′, SS-N-D2-R1-i
SSE aspect, 10,000′ SS-N-D2 R1-i
Weather: Snowy and windy
Snowpack: 12″ fresh
Date of Observation: 01/27/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Slate River TH to Gunsight Pass Road and up through middle portion of Wolverine Basin.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: Around 1pm storm totals reached 4″ and slopes steeper than about 38 degrees easily produced Loose Dry avalanches in the storm snow.
Weather: Light snow in the AM increased to moderate rates with a few periods of high-intensity snow. We traveled through reasonably protected areas, but there was a clear increase in wind speeds in the afternoon. Storm totals near 5 inches around 230 pm.
Snowpack: Traveled through east and northeasterly terrain from 9,000 – 11,000 feet. Snow depth ranged from about 120 – 145cm. No cracking or collapsing. I dug a hasty profile on a slope that naturally avalanched around 1/4 and found around 90cm of snow that was generally fist and 4-finger hard. The basal weak layer was intact near the ground and was fist hard. I suspect further down the slope the avalanche that ran on 1/4 scoured into basal weak layers even though basal weak layer was present at the very top of the start zone (see photo). I was able to trigger Loose Dry avalanches in the storm snow on this 200-foot slope that entrained about 10 inches into the snowpack due to the shallow weak snowpack.
Old snow surfaces in this area were comprised of near surface facets around .7mm in size.
Photos:
The weekly snowpack summary is here. The week was generally clear and the valley only saw short lived bouts of new snow. Winds increased towards the end of the week and fresh wind slabs were built by Friday morning. A stormy pattern this weekend will bring several inches to a foot of new snow.
Date of Observation: 01/27/2023
Name: Observation to CBAC Via Text Message
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: East Bowl – Anthracites
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Kicked off small windslab btl east aspect on a small convex steep roll. 12″ deep ran 30 feet before stopping in flats. Basically end of trees on top pitch of East Bowl where at rolls steep, aka the cirque.
Weather:
Snowpack:
Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Sophia Todorov
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: RMBL Snow Study Plot in parking lot in front of Dining Hall
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: partly cloudy, calm, about 6 degrees F
Snowpack: Snowpack is 116cm. The top ~half~ (65cm-116cm) is snow from the most recent storm cycles that has settled greatly, ranging from F at the top to 1F firmness at the bottom of the layer. This is followed by a relatively strong P layer (32cm-65cm). The snowpack is still maintaining the weak F layer from 15cm to 32cm, but it is buried deep now. And, as a result, we did not observe any collapse or propagation during an extended column test. ECTX.
Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Cement Creek TH to Hunter Hill. Skin up SE slopes to 12,000 feet. Skies modest angled northeast slopes 12,000 – 11,600. Skied southeast 12,000 – 10,400.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A trio of recent Wind Slabs on east aspects of Hunter Hill above treeline, D1.5 and D2. Looking into the greater Elk Mountains, it was hard to view with marginal lighting but looked like maybe a few other recent wind slabs but the photos were inconclusive.
Weather: Cold temperatures at valley bottom were below zero but slowly increased during day and as we ascended out of the inversion zone. Temps at 12,000 feet maybe hit 10 degrees. Winds out of NW remained light with some moderate gusting. Very little snow transport was observed as most windward surfaces near and above 12,000 feet were stiff and lacked soft snow for transport.
Snowpack: No signs of instability underfoot outside of some minor cracking in drifted snow above treeline. Drifted slabs above treeline were stiff and hard. Depth on southeast slopes in this area ranged from 130 – 150 cm. Depth in a northeast-facing basin was around 160cm near treeline. A test profile produced no concerning results but the mid-December weak layer remains 4-finger hard, under a 100cm slab. with clear signs of rounding (see photo). Snow surfaces remained dry on all aspects and provided excellent skiing where protected from the wind. Near surface facets formed on slopes protected from the wind; sizes are generally .5 – .7mm.
Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Irwin Guides
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Irwin Guides Cat-Ski tenure
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: 1st shot of the season in Eyes of the World ran O/G with a 3# hand charge on an
unsupported slope skiers left below the rock band. Impressive hard slab with car size blocks smoking small
trees.
New World HS-AE-R3-D2.5-O FC (180cm x 40m x 180m)
Weather:
Snowpack:
Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Travis Colbert
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Red lady skin track to the summit. Redwell Basin to Wrong Chute. 9,000-12,400ft NW, N & NE aspects.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: Clear & cold. -24 degrees at the Slate TH, probably low teens on the summit. Minimal wind.
Snowpack: Entrance (NW aspect) was very wind impacted, but the sastrugi was surprisingly soft. A few hundred feet down, the snow transitioned to relatively consistent, dense powder. The lower we went, the softer the snow, with the best turns in the belly of Wrong Chute (or in this case right chute…let the confusion persist for eternity). Seems like the snowpack is becoming more faceted during this dry, cold spell.
