Persistent Slabs BTL

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Paradise Divide Area
Date of Observation: 01/22/2017
Name: Nick Hill
Subject: Persistent Slabs BTL
Aspect: North East
Elevation: 10,000 ft

Avalanches: Saw 2 slabs release on the 1/19 SH layer (crowns about 50cm deep), on steeper slopes under convex rollovers. First was remote triggered by a skier about 15 ft away SS-A-R1-D1-I. Second slab either ran naturally, or was triggered at a significant distance from above. SS-N-R2-D1.5-I.

The second slide highlights how touchy the snow has already become. If we did trigger this slab, it was from a significant distance. If it ran naturally, it was likely from the solar effects this morning. Either way, the pack is unstable before this next storm moves in.
Weather: Calm sunny skies early, becoming overcast after noon.
Snowpack: Knee deep ski pen, waist deep boot pen. Did not notice obvious signs of instability while skinning. 1/19 SH layer found about 50 cm deep.