Avalanches: SS-AB-R3-D2.5-I, Ran 800′ vertical feet
Weather: Clear, Calm, 20F
Snowpack: 12-36″ New wind loaded snow over Jan. 19 surface hoar

IMG_2442

IMG_2441

IMG_2440

IMG_24411

Avalanches: We did perform a number of informal tests on unsupported slopes and very steep short pitches on E and NE aspects near and above the Gothic road. Some of these showed evidence of past avalanching and had been refreshed with the old crowns almost buried. There was movement underneath the skis, but slabs did not propagate beyond ski tips and tails, but did fail down ~35 on the 1/19 SH Layer.
Weather: Scattered clouds and light winds. Stayed cold all day
Snowpack: We toured up to the meadow beneath the Rental Shop glades and dug on a NE aspect at 10,200 feet. CTM SC results were observed on a mid storm layer 28cm down CTH RP results were observed down 42cm on the 1/19 buried SH Layer. ECTN on the mid storm layer and no cracking down on the buried SH. PST 100/100 down 38 Buried SH layer was not easily observable to the eye where we dug our long column tests. Given sudden results our avoidance of steeper terrain from our trip plan and the bulletin was confirmed.

Avalanches: Fresh wind slab avalanches could be scene on star and pearl pass. Star men’s avalanche looked to be D2R3. Multiple point release avalanches started to naturally occur through out the day in and around the whole bowl.
Weather: 24 inches fresh snow at friends hut
Snowpack: A wind slab covered all aspects of the slopes around pearl pass and around friends hut, even the flat ground right outside friends hut. 24 inches of fresh snow fell at friends hut and high winds continued through the night. The fresh snow started to set up to a storm slab almost immediately. The wind slab was failing on slopes 35 degrees and great on most aspect.

IMG_2101

IMG_2080

IMG_2079

Avalanches: Snow Safety team had one result. SS-AE-R1-D1.5-O Sunny shoulder left. Failed 45cm down on 1.5mm facets above a MFcr. I believe this is the 1/23 interface. We’ve gotten 112″ since the 1/19th and 31″ since 1/23.
Weather: Cold!
Snowpack: H2D 4″ .25SWE.

Avalanches:
Weather:
Snowpack: Traveled near and around Taylor Canyon. HS ~100 cm. Only 6″ or less over the 1/19 interface (crust or NSF, no SH observed), and the upper snowpack is now entirely faceted and weak, with thin faceted crusts on sunnier aspects. Snowpack is quickly faceting throughout. I saw no avalanche concerns other than shallow facet sluffing, and we traveled on numerous steep slopes.

Avalanches: See video. Skier triggered 7 soft slab avalanches 15-20″ deep on the 1/19 surface hoar layer, D1 to D2, depending on terrain size, on E and NE aspects below treeline. One was remote triggered, several were in surprisingly dense aspen trees, several broke onto slope angles as low as 31 and 32 degrees. One broke higher above me than expected and knocked me off my feet. Every slope steep enough to slide went except for slopes that had already naturally avalanched. Also observed a fresh animal triggered and sympathetic slide on a SW aspect below treeline.
Weather: Broken to scattered skies. Minimal precip. Calm winds. Cold temps
Snowpack: The usual bag of tricks aren’t working. No collapsing or cracking observed on low angle terrain, stability tests weren’t concerning, yet every slope we touched steeper than 33 degrees avalanched on surface hoar about 15-20″ deep. Test results were:
SE aspect, 10200 ft in sparse aspens. No surface hoar observed, ECTN H, BRK 30cm deep on small, rounding facets.
NE aspect, 10100 ft in a windsheltered opening. 1mm SH 33 cm deep. ECTN M, PC/BRK on the surface hoar.
In the past 3 days, I have yet to find propagating results in an ECT but getting consistent avalanches on the surface hoar layer. The ECT appears to be unreliable for our current conditions, or else spatial variability is very pronounced.

D1 animal triggered and sympathetic slide. SW aspect BTL, new in past 24 hours. Tracks in and tracks out…all good.

Natural that ran during the storm in relatively thick aspens.

Skier triggered slide in relatively thick aspens

Crowns were all 15-20″ thick, on the 1/19 SH.

Remotely triggered slide from 20 feet away.

Skier triggered from edge of path, propagated back to 32 degree slope.

Skier triggered, pulled out to 31 degree ridge.

Avalanches: 18″-20″ persistent slab @ 30-35 degrees, skier triggered – 35 yard crown, debris built to a quick stop around 60 yards below trigger point. Obvious signs of other stress throughout these trees. Advise caution! No damage/injury
Weather:
Snowpack:

16387019_1097197810390346_7188491251514544435_n

16344175_1097203147056479_1446178111_n

16299107_1097197713723689_2311910093070773317_n

16142421_1097197497057044_6996541826134540929_n

Avalanches:
Weather:
Snowpack:

Screen-Shot-2017-01-26-at-1.01.57-PM

IMG_20170126_103517

IMG_20170126_103514

Avalanches: Gullies on the NE aspect of the ravine had slid.
Weather: Calm, No Snow,
Snowpack: Did a quick column test and got SP on SS at 40 cm.

Avalanches: Snowmobile triggered slide off Kebler by gravel pit
Weather: COLD (below 0 at 12,000′ all day), overcast skies, Mod SW winds w/ Strong gusts, periods of s-1 with 2″ new at study plot
Snowpack: Lots of collapsing, no movement of snowpack in Irwin Terrain.

Photo courtesy Kyle Waller