Zone: Southeast Mountains Route Description: Traveled on E and NE aspects to 11,300 ft.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes Avalanches: Ski cut a few long-running loose dry avalanches in Climax Chutes entraining the top 6″ or so of weak facets with no gouging observed. A few of the sluffs ran past the chokes to the top of the aprons, up to 2000 vertical feet, D1 to D1.5 in size. Another group behind us had similar results in the same chute. Weather: Mostly clear this afternoon. Calm winds where we traveled. Snowpack: The January snowfall is easily to sluff, roughly 6″ of fist hard facets. The December slab remains intact enough to prevent gouging, about 4F and faceting at the top of the slab.
Photos:
A little nudge from the skis got this one going to its apron
Skier triggered sluffs in Climax Chutes managed with off fall line skiing
Red lines indicate start and terminus of triggered sluffs today
Relative Size: R1 very small Destructive Size: D1- Relatively harmless to people Avg. crown height (inches): Avg. width (feet): Avg. vertical run (feet): 1400
Involvements
# of people caught: # of partial burials: # of full burials:
Additional comments: Main chute. Sluffs stopped just short of the choke.
