Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 11/20/2015
Name: Irwin Guides
Date of Observation: 11/20/2015
Name: Irwin Guides
Subject: Irwin Obs
Aspect: South, South West, West
Aspect: South, South West, West
Avalanches: No natural avalanches observed despite good visibility into the Anthracites, the Ruby Range and Peeler Basin.
Snowpack: HS varied from 20-70cm with more scouring than loading from recent strong westerly and northerly winds near treeline. The snow surface was stiff and we dropped through some trap doors on the top pitch of 70 Gully but it was mostly soft and skied well elsewhere. I found a melt-freeze layer 5-10cm thick near the ground on most slopes, topped by 10-30cm of facets and then settled storm snow or wind slabs up to 30cm thick near the surface. We experienced lots of collapsing and some rumbling collapses extended up to 30m where the surface snow was stiffest near the top of 70 Gully.