Irwin Obs

CB Avalanche Center2015-16 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/24/2016
Name: Irwin Guides
Subject: Irwin Obs
Aspect: East, South, West
Elevation: 10,000 -12.000 ft.

Avalanches: some sluffing in ruby range, no significant activity, NE bowl of Owen may have slid mid storm, snow surface looked a bit roughed up, but covered by recent snow.
Weather: Winds less than 10mph most of day, but increasing last several hours ahead of next storm. Temperatures rose from single digits early to 18º on ridge and 29º at study plot. Trace snow accumulation. Low level stratus clouds built and dissipated most the day with increasing clouds last hour with flurries.
Snowpack: Cold powder this morning quickly transitioned to heavy moist snow in upper 12” of new snow. Easterly and southerly snow in lower 2/3rds of terrain most cooked. Cool west breeze minimized moistening in west facing terrain and UUWW for tomorrow, but still got moist. Snow safety routes this morning verified rapid stabilization of snowpack overnight, minimal windslabs and storm slabs all but disappeared. Early prefrontal red dust layer quite visible where cat has cut roads, cornices, etc. Simple hand shears continued to show failure 4cm above red dust in storm snow.