Date of Observation: 01/05/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Pavement obs
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Recent natural avalanches on southwest gully on Red Ridge, northeast-facing slope on Emmons above Gunsight Road, and upper snowpack avalanche in Raccoon Bowl on Emmons. See photos
Weather: While glassing for avalanches, I did see periods of moderate snow transport above treeline.
Snowpack:
Photos:
-
-
Northeasterly terrain above Gunsight Pass Road near the bottom of Wolverine Basin on Emmons.
-
-
Very fresh looking slab in Raccoon Basin on Mount Emmons.
-
-
Hard to see but slab appeared to break in old snow in the middle of this southwest-facing gully.
Estimated avalanche date: 01/04/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Mount Emmons
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: ATL: Above Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Within storm snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Looks fresh enough to be yesterday or last night. Stayed in upper snowpack.
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Mount Emmons
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: New/Old interface
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Slope where Gunsight road crosses from Wolverine Basin exit to wrap towards Right Chute. Appears a bit older so coded for Tues 1/3.
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Other: Add text
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: SW
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Debris looked to be smoothed by wind so coded for 1/3. Crossloaded gully.
5857
