Date of Observation: 02/12/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Slate River TH to Purple Ridge skinner up to 11, 700 feet.
Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: none observed.
Weather: Low-level clouds in the morning gave way to high, thin clouds in the afternoon. Mild air temps and light winds.
Snowpack: A skiff of new snow overnight along the Ruby Spine – 1cm or less than a 1/2 inch. I toured around looking at the current snow surface in preparation for the incoming snowy weather. Slopes on the north half of the compass in sheltered areas have very light faceting near the surface but are small in size and do not appear to be all that problematic for the incoming snow. The south half of the compass developed crusts. The surface on a steep south slope at 11,200 feet had around 4 inches of wet snow resting above an old melt/freeze crust. Crusts slowly thin as you transition to due east. Some near treeline slopes facing east had a dusting of new snow that remained dry resting above a thin, melt/freeze crust or windboard. Most sunny features I encountered warmed enough today to glue the dusting of new snow to the underlying crust.
I was able to stomp on a few older, wind drifts near and below treeline without any signs of instability or cracking.
-
- The dusting of new snow remained dry on this east-facing slope and sits above a stiff windboard.
-
- Around 4 inches of wet snow resting on an old melt/freeze crust on a steep due south slope near treeline.
-
- An interesting photo showing the loading and scouring from the previous wind event. The sunny area was drifted last week whereas the odd squiggles left of center are old tracks from fun-seekers over a week ago that became raised during the wind event.
-
- Just a nice looking image with tracks of folks enjoying the generally safe avalanche conditions.
