Date of Observation: 01/07/2023
Name: Zach Guy
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from Scarp Ridge
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A handful of previously undocumented large persistent slab avalanches that appeared to fail during the 1/3-1/4 cycle. Also evidence of large avalanches from earlier in the holiday cycle (12/31-ish) on numerous other alpine slopes, especially SE aspects above treeline.
Weather:
Snowpack:
Photos:
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Northwest Bowl at AMR
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Ohio Peak
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Robinson Basin
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Robinson Basin
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East Bowl at AMR
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Peeler Peak
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Anthracite Range
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: N
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Northwest Bowl and Ohio Peak
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 2
Location
Location: Peeler Basin
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: BTL: Below Tree Line
Aspect: SE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R2 small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Peeler Peak
Estimated avalanche date: 01/04/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Lake Irwin (Robinson Basin, Owen, Ruby)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: S
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Soft Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R3 medium
Destructive Size: D2.5
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Robinson Basin. Impressively wide.
Estimated avalanche date: 01/04/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Anthracite Range
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: E
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane: Old snow
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: East Bowl
Estimated avalanche date: 01/03/2023
Number of Avalanches: 1
Location
Location: Lake Irwin (Robinson Basin, Owen, Ruby)
Location Specific:
Start Zone Elevation: NTL: Near Tree Line
Aspect: NE
Characteristics
Trigger: Natural
Trigger modifier:
Type: Hard Slab
Failure Plane:
Size
Relative Size: R1 very small
Destructive Size: D2 – could bury, injure, or kill a person
Avg. crown height (inches):
Avg. width (feet):
Avg. vertical run (feet):
Involvements
# of people caught:
# of partial burials:
# of full burials:
Additional comments: Robinson Basin
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