Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 11/04/2018
Name: Tom Schaefer
Subject: NW Bowl Mt. Baldy
Aspect: North West
Elevation: 12,300’
Avalanches:
Observerd one new avalanche that appeared to have happened that day crossing over a skin track mid bowl? Small wind loaded feature at aprox. 12,500’ below small cliff band. SS- N/O-R1-D1 O/G
Weather: Overcast in the AM becoming Obscured at 11:30. Winds West light BTL and Moderate near and ATL throughout the day. Snowfall rate increased from S1 at 11:30 to S5 at 1:45. Temps remained in the 20’s throughout the day.
Snowpack: Variable depths throughout NW bowl ranging from 10 cm to 90cm. Steep gully’s near ridges avg. 30 cm slippery wind stiffened surfaces. Below 12,000’ snow depth more consistent avg 90cm. with a fair amount of skier tracks on softer snow. Dug one quick hand pit at 12,300’ NW aspect HS 85cm and found 6 different weak layers from the ground up. Facet layer failed at 45cm with a hand shear test Q3.
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