AVALANCHES: Observed from town a natural avalanche in the Red Coon Basin. Estimated as an R2-D2.5 but I could only see a portion of the crown. The avalanche was located on the Northeast facing portion of the generally East facing bowl.

WEATHER:

SNOWPACK:

UPLOADS:

AVALANCHES: Most impressive avalanche cycle I’ve ever seen on Axtell. Slides in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th bowls that all ran yesterday or today. The last 4 ran wall-to-wall, up to 2,000 feet wide and most running 1,500 – 2,000 vertical to valley floor. These were N/ATL on N/NE/E aspects, with one wrapping to SE.. All crowns were 2-3 feet deep, failing on the same near surface facet layer buried mid-February and gouged to the ground in places. With the exception of a D2 in 1st Bowl (BTL), the remainder were all D2.5 to D3’s (N/ATL). Two (maybe 3?) were triggered remotely by a party in front of us from the ridge. The other three were naturals. We also remotely triggered a narrow D2 that ran to valley floor.

WEATHER: Warm. Periods of very light snow. Moderate southwest ridgetop winds with moderate snow transport. Overcast skies.

SNOWPACK: Last night’s snow was dense and top heavy. Lots of tree bombing today and southerly surfaces became moist. On north aspects near/below treeline, about 70-90 cm of 4F to F hard snow down to our fist hard, mid-February facet layer. All facets below that.

UPLOADS:

Crowns were 70 – 90 cm thick.  Generally 4F to 4F- slabs over fist hard facets.

2nd Bowl on Axtell.  (North aspect N/BTL)

Wang Chung Face (North aspect, near treeline)

3rd Bowl..”The Pencil”  (Northeast aspect NTL)

4th Bowl.  Hard to see the crown but it ran wall to wall, 2000 feet wide.   (E, NE, N aspect ATL)

5th Bowl above Green Lake. Also ran full width.  (NW-N-NE ATL)

Extent of crown lines observed 3/2/15.  The last crown line to lookers left is estimated.

Date: 3/2/15 – 8AM

Only very light snow Sunday afternoon, then moderate much  of the night so 8″ new and water a very dense 0.67″ with snowpack at 59″.  Warmer wetaher made for overnight snow at nearly 9% water compared to just over 6% the day before so a heavy snow sits on top a light one.  –Overcast now and warm (27ºF) but light is flat and though i do not see signs og slides it is difficult to tell.  billy

Date: 3/1/15
Location: Irwin, Kebler Pass.

Wind slabs developed on higher terrain, persistent slabs 1-2ft deep resting on Feb 24th greenhouse crust with 1-1.5mm facets resting on top of crust. Wide propagation, and fast running slides.

BOTTOMLINE: Several large explosevly triggered slides (1.5-2) failing on storm inversion, and near crust facets above Feb. 24th greenhouse layer.

Date: 3/1/15

I was out this weekend at a good buddy’s cabin in the anthracite Range this weekend. Friday afternoon about 10″ of light density snow .. wind picked up in late afternoon. Snowing and and winds from the west early morning Saturday. One of our party remotely triggered an avalanche on NE facing slope whilst skiing low angle terrain. By 10 pm Saturday eve over a foot no wind.

Sunday over 18″. Saturday morning widespread natural avalanche activity..all new snow going big and scary.

Skier triggered avalanche in the Anthracite Range on 2/28/15

7:30am on 3/1/15

Only 1½” snow Saturday but 12″ last night so 24 hour total is 13½” with water 0.85″ and snow pack the winters deepest at 57″.  No wind and currently overcast and not snowing.  Temp. between 19 and 20ºF all night.  No sign of slides but light is flat.  billy