Skier triggered slabs near Kebler Pass

CB Avalanche Center2014-15 Observations

LOCATION: Kebler Pass Area
DATE OF OBSERVATION: 02/28/2015
NAME: Zach Guy
SUBJECT: Skier triggered slabs near Kebler Pass
ASPECT: North, North East, South
ELEVATION: 9,500 to 10,500 ft. Below Treeline

 

AVALANCHES: Widespread, touchy persistent slabs on N/NE aspects BTL. Almost every rollover steeper than 35 degrees we approached today either triggered remotely or with a ski cut., about 10 slides in total. Slabs ranged from 10″ to 18″ thick, 10 to 100 feet wide, and ran up to 500 vertical feet. Failed on near surface facets. that were buried at the beginning of this late-Feb storm cycle. Most were D1, a couple D1.5’s with debris up to 5 feet. Two were remotely triggered from flat terrain. SS-AS-R1-D1/1.5-O

WEATHER: Overcast. S1 midday increased to S3 by late afternoon. Light easing to calm winds.

SNOWPACK: N/NE aspects: 12-18″ of F+ recent snow, no wind affect, over the Feb 16th facet layer (F hard), which is rotten to the ground. Very reactive interface. Widespread cracking, collapsing, and skier triggered slides.

S aspects. 4-6″ of new snow over the most recent Meltfreeze crust (Feb 24 crust), which is 2″ thick and supportive. About 2″ of mixed forms below that crust to the February 20th crust, which is knife hard to the ground. No signs of instability or sluffing on steep terrain.

UPLOADS:

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