Storm slabs on Mt. Emmons

Date of Observation: 02/15/2023
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Rec tour on Mt. Emmons, traveling on northeasterly aspects below treeline.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Skier triggered a few thin storm slabs breaking on a density change mid-storm, D1 in size. Also observed several natural storm slabs that ran overnight, same character and size.
Weather: Light snowfall and light easterly winds both tapered to nil by this afternoon.
Snowpack: Storm total was up to 12″ on the small-grained near surface facet interface. There was a pronounced density increase in the storm snow that happened mid-storm, which was the source of today’s problems. Slabs cracking on this mid-storm weak layer ranged from 3″ to 8″ thick, depending on elevation. Higher elevations approaching treeline were more reactive.