Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 03/22/2020
Name: Zach Kinler
Aspect: North, North East, East, South East
Elevation: 10,200′-11,400′
Avalanches:
Axtel NE 11,600′ D1.5 Wind Slab
Anthracite Range E 11,400′ D1.5 Wind Slab, likely ran 3/20 or 3/21
Elk Basin SE 11,600′ 4 X D1.5 Wet Loose
Weather: Partly to Mostly Cloudy skies with pleasant temperatures, warm in the sun, cool in the shade. Light to moderate westerly breeze, temps near freezing.
Snowpack: Wind was transporting snow on peaks and ridgelines at times throughout the day. North aspect 10,600′ had 60 cm(2 ft) of settled snow since 3/19. Previous crusts were not felt until you moved onto Northeast aspects where they were observed at 60 cm(3/19) and 80 cm. East aspects below 10,500′ had a thin surface crust by end of the day. No signs of instability while skiing E-N aspects up to 40 degrees in sheltered terrain. Southerly aspects were moistened and had refrozen into a soft 3 cm crust by 16:00.
Axtel NE 11,600′
Anthracite Range, E 11,400′
Elk Basin, 11,600′ SE