Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/16/2019
Name: Evan Ross, Eric Murrow, Zach Kinler
Subject: Shallow Storm Slabs
Aspect: East, South East, South
Elevation: 9,500-11,600
Avalanches:
Several very wide propagating storm slabs were observed. A couple of these crown widths were estimated in the thousand or couple thousands of feet wide. While wide, these slabs were not very deep and only amounted to D1’s and D1.5’s. These natural avalanches were observed on South, East and West slopes.
Weather: Cloudy skies with light and variable winds in sheltered terrain and moderate SW winds in exposed areas and ridge lines. Temps in mid 20s. S-1 to S1 snowfall throughout day with 2-3” accumulations on tour.
Snowpack: At 9,500ft we measured 7″ of new snow at about 11am, and 9″ of new snow at about 3pm. Higher in the terrain, the 9″ felt about average for the day ending by 3pm. A shallow storm instability was the only avalanche concern observed. The storm slabs were failing just above the interface in the storm snow. Small amounts of wind-loading was confined to right at ridgeline in this area and did not extend far down slope. HS was around 120 on southerly slopes and increasing to about 150 on the more easterly tilted and cross-loaded slopes
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