Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 02/12/2019
Name: Zach Kinler and Eric Murrow
Subject: Elk Creek Jaunt
Aspect: North East, South
Elevation: 9600′-10,400′
Avalanches:
1x SS-ASu-R1D1-O, NE Aspect BTL (2/11)
1x SS-ASu-R2D2-O NE Aspect BTL (2/11)
1x HS-N-R1D1-I S aspect BTL(several days old)
Weather: Sunny skies and little to no wind below tree line. Temps in the mid to upper 20s.
Snowpack: Two unique snowpack structures from South-North that will certainly cause problems if our next loading event verifies. Multiple crust facet combs on South which produced propagating results in an ECT and a collapse on approach to the 25 degree slope. Slabs above and in between these interfaces range from 4F-1F. HS ~130cm. This test profile came from just above Kebler Pass road immediately above one of the ‘7 sisters’ slide paths. See picture.
On a NE aspect with HS ~160cm we investigated a skier-triggered avalanche from yesterday. The avalanche failed on 6-8 mm SH(see picture) that was likely buried on 1/21 with a crown depth ~45cm(see picture). This was an unsupported, open slope with many large boulders, rolls and small benches with slope angles ~38-40 deg at the top and ~35 deg mid track. A test in an uncollapsed portion of the hangfire produced an ECTP14. The slide propagated into terrain as low as 30 deg. and ran 300-400 ft over the road to the creek. Debris was up to ~1m deep.
Photos:
