Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/11/2018
Name: Ian HAVLICK
Subject: Scarp Ridge/Ruby Range
Aspect: East, South East, South, South West, West
Elevation: 10-12,000ft
Avalanches:
1 natural/remote near gravel pit on Kebler Pass. 60ftx2ft deep, failing on ground. East facing, BTL.
Size 2 in NW bowl in Anthracites. Viewed from distance.
One size 1.5-2 on SE facing Purple Peak, ATL. Bad vis obscured solid details.
1 windslab failing ATL, S facing, Peeler Peak
Weather: Partly cloudy with residual clouds hanging and obscuring Ruby Range and high peaks across Elk Mountains. Clouds increased throughout afternoon under cold, NW flow, with light orographic snowfall accumulating to 1/4″ of very low density fluff. Winds remained blustery all day, at all elevations. Temperatures remained cold, with temperatures not climbing much out of the teens.
Snowpack: Continuously noisy snowpack. Lots of cracking, and monster collapses in low angle terrain and steeper, shadier terrain on west facing slopes where old snow has been preserved through drought. F-4F slab rests on very weak facets where signs of instability are common. Slab in this area ranges from 1-2ft with some areas deeper with windloading. Seemed terrain travelled today (up to 33º) wasnt quite steep enough and/or not quite enough load. Slab is stiffening with wind and cold temperatures and seems like it will get more reactive before stabilizing. Ski pen was 20cm, boot pen was to the ground. Several crusts exist in snowpack as well. One which the 1/10 storm fell on, and the other is deeper, potentially after holiday storm. time will tell if these allow load to grow deep before failing….
Photos:
