Date of Observation: 01/13/2023
Name: Evan Ross
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Ruby Range near Irwin. 11,000 to 13,000ft. NE-E-SE
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: 1 undocumented cornice avalanche on Mt Owen. Difficult to date, but probably early in the last storm. Fresh roller balls and tiny wet loose avalanches, primarily on SE-S-SW. Stayed up high all afternoon and didn’t get a good feel for wet avalanche activity at lower elevations.
Weather: Pleasant day in the alpine. Calm wind. High temps at Scarps ridge were just below freezing. High clouds created a partly cloudy sky
Snowpack: As expected, no obvious signs of instability. Managing old wind slabs, cornices, and sluffs were the primary avalanche problems encountered. We avoided areas with a below-average snowpack depth and southerly-facing slopes in the alpine. Snow surfaces were lovely. Even the wind effect was soft, a little thicker but still soft. Small SH on the snow surface all the way up at 13,000ft on ridgelines.
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- Previously documented avalanches. The background is the Ant E Face. From this distance, those avalanches look soft and like they have a fair bit of snow-filled back in them. Perhaps releasing early in the last storm cycle starting 1/10.
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- Looking down the Ruby Range.
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- Roller balls on SW-facing slopes at 11,500ft in Robinson Basin
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- Old Cornice Avalanche on Mt Owen.
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- The start of an old Cornice avalanche on Mt Owen and other cornices hanging off the ridge.
