Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: steve banks
Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Up Red Lady skin Track, down the Glades
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Adding to Evan’s observation….I kicked a cornice from the ridge line at 11,600 and knocked off a loveseat sized chunk. This did some weird propagation dance to the Southeast (down ridge) then up to the steeper wind loaded upper road cut area. Ran surprisingly far down into the lower benches with a large powder cloud.
Noted several very large avalanches on Axtel as Evan mentioned. Pics aren’t great, but added them below. Looks Like 4th and 5th bowls went big. Debris below 3rd bowl looks like Wang Chung flushed.
Also had a mega roofalanche in town.
Weather: S1 from 10 am till noonish with light SW winds. Then dramatic clearing and notable warm up with less wind after noon.
Snowpack: The new midpack is rather supportive with the most recent, drier snow on top making for good riding. Ski pen off the skin track was about boot top. Below 10,800 on a South facing slope the sun was warming the surface noticeably.