Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/03/2019
Name: Irwin Guides
Subject: Irwin Cat Ski Obs
Aspect:
Elevation:
Avalanches:
Thorton’s and Glade: SS-ASc-R1-D1-S. 10-15cm’s Deep, 100′ wide, ran full track.
2-Chutes: SS-AE-R1-D1-S. 10-15cm’s Deep, 50′ wide, ran full track.
Moonrise Right SS-ASc-R2-D1.5-I DF-02/28 (30cm x 20m x 100m) Triggered by a ski cut
Booth SS-ASc-R2-D1.5-S PP (60cm x 15m x 50m) Ski cut in booth bed surface was still 30 cm’s above the 2/28
crust
Weather: PM Weather Sky Sfc MxTp MnTp Temp WDir WSpd Gust Time H2D/W/DEN HN24 HST/W HS
Study Plot OVC PP 26 20 25 177 14 35 0800 14.0/1.60 11.4 17.0 29.0/3.55 98.0
Scarp Ridge Solar: 0 18 14 18 238 29 59 1600 5.0/0.30 6.0 5.0 32.0/3.85 99.0
Weather summary: SNOWING S2 most of the day picking up to S4 around 15:00. Winds Moderate to Strong from WSW
w/ extreme gusts, especially picking up around 15:00. Large Grauppel noted at 16:00
Snowpack: Lower Westwall minimal signs of instability with minor shooting cracks mostly under skis to 10′ in front of skis, some slow to medium speed Loose Dry. Mid Westwall- Thorton’s and Glade, Way Long- shooting cracks up to 100′ and shallow storm Slabs. Long shot SS-AS-I 22″ crown, entire slope and debris ran down to photographers tree island.Collapse in the bottom
of Lean. Upper Westwall, reactive windslabs in Moonrise right on ski cut. Shallow storm slabs in 2-Chutes w/ Double handshots. Deeper Storm slab in Booth and Strike 3 convexity. South Barkmarker Zone, Whiskey/Vodka Shots had minimal to no sign of instability, minor cracking up high in storm snow and a collapse in Vodka. Most of cracking and avalanches were in the new snow at a couple different depths (storm slabs). The Soft Slab in Moonrise was the only activity the 2/28 interface.
Photos: