Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/12/2018
Name: Eleven Guides
Subject: Eleven Guides PM Report (Cat Tenure Irwin)
Aspect: South, South West, West
Elevation: 10-11,500
Avalanches:
Small windslab on ski cut in near treeline, west facing, steep rockband, 35º, 20cm’s deep ran 50′ D1.
small windslab off shot in near treeline, west facing, 35º on 1/9 crust. 20cm’s D1.
Steep west facing, near treeline, SS-AE-R1-D1.5-O MF-12/21 (100cm x 20m x 100m) Ran on Depth Hoar Poly Crystals
Weather: Heavy Snow in the am lightening up in the pm, skies breaking up and clearing a bit at
15:00 though still flurries . Winds mostly light to moderate gusty NNW at the landing. High temp 21F.
.45″ SWE, 8″ in last 24hrs, HS 40″
Snowpack: Explosives used on backcountry snowpack….
Overall snowpack is weak with a very soft slab, mostly fist with a little 4F. The
12/21 interface is the most concerning which is where all the storm snow since December 21 is sitting on the
basal layers. On the more shady aspects the basal layer is facets or depth Hoar 1-4mm. On the more
Southwesterly aspects the basal layer is the classic sintering facet poly crystals with a crust on top. Most
profiles showing a 1cm crust 20-30 cm’s down where a few small wind slabs were running on. This is the 01/09
crust and will need to be tracked. Outer Limits a few collapses but no cracking. Profiles in the Apron
showed HS of 80-95. 20cm’s of 1-2mm facets on the ground. One thin 1cm crust around 35cm’s from surface
(1/9 crust). 4F hardness below the crust, F hardness above the crust. This crust showed Resistant Planar
characteristics while tapping on column but no propagation. ECTP 15, SC on Facets. Sunset & Moonrise ski
cuts and turns with no avalanches and minimal slab. Overall snowpack is stable and we felt pretty
comfortable moving around slope with minimal hazard on due to no real slab developed
Photos:
