Observations

12/26/21

Lower Slate River avalanches (previously reported but photos here)

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Eric Murrow

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Avalanche obs from the road.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Photos and coding for avalanches previously reported.

Photos:

5149

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Whetstone Avalanche (and one from Cement Mountaint) – upper elevations

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Eric Murrow

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Roadside avalanche obs.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous near and above treeline avalanches on northwest through north through east aspects.

Photos:

5148

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Whetstone Avalanches, below and near treeline

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Eric Murrow

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Roadside avalanche observations of Whetstone

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Natural avalanche activity below treeline on north through east aspects. See photos for some exampbles.

Photos:

5147

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Shred Lady Glades

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Evan Ross

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Up the main track, down the glades.

Avalanches: On the up track, we watched a group trigger a large slab avalanche on a NE to E section of Red Lady Bowl.

While skiing a low-angle section of Red Lady Glades we triggered a large avalanche on a much steeper east-facing aspect at 11,300ft below treeline. The crown height averaged an estimated 85cm, and varied between an estimated 75cm to 120cm. I dug into the crown on a low angled section of the slope where it pulled back close to the ridge. At that location the slab released on small facets at the 12/23 interface. I’ve watched this slope release a few times now. This was the furthest I’ve seen it run through the flats in the runout.

Red Lady Bowl had a natural avalanche that released on from the east-facing lookers left corner of the bowl. This is a heavily wind-loaded terrain feature. The crown was mostly unrecognizable and covered with new snow. The avalanche debris were also difficult to see. The avalanche appeared to run fairly far into the lower angled terrain below the bowl.

Mt Axtel had several large to very large avalanches released during the last storm. Green Lake Bowl, 4th Bowl, and the Pencil area. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a good view or good picture to more closely examine the crowns or debris piles.

Weather: Mostly cloudy sky and orographic snow showers in the morning, dissipated throughout the day. Few clouds in the evening. Light winds where we traveled. Snow plumes at times on the higher terrain but not consistently loading.

Snowpack: The Santa Slab is fat. We observed no obvious signs of instability given the thick slab, but observed two impressive avalanches release. Dug one pit at on a low angle south-facing slope at 11,000ft. The 75cm Santa Slab was well bonded to the 12/23 crust. No test results above or below the crust. Impressive ski quality. The low angle was ripping.

5145

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Avalanche Obs from Gothic to Copper to Brush Creek

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from afar from Mt. Crested Butte

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: My vantage was of mostly southerly and windward aspects (southeast to west). Relatively less activity on these aspects, but a handful of large slides.

Photos:

5144

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Paradise Divide to Schofield Pass avalanche obs

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from afar from Mt. Crested Butte

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous large avalanches on various aspects. I had good views of easterly and southerly aspects, but from afar. Sizes and avalanche type coded below are estimated from a distance, without clear views of runouts.

Photos:

5143

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Southern Ruby Range obs

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Viewed from afar from Mt. Crested Butte

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Numerous large avalanches on various aspects. From my vantage, I could only see the east half of the compass, and I saw activity on all of those slopes. Sizes and avalanche type coded below are estimated from a distance, without clear views of runouts.

Photos:

5142

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Dec 24th Sunny vs. Shady

Date of Observation: 12/24/2021
Name: jeff banks

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: skied in the forest up to 11K Shady & sunny aspects

Observed avalanche activity: No

Snowpack: Flat & Shady aspects were rumbling w/ facets at the ground collapsing

SW-W No signs of instability yet. Serious trail wallowing with men of girth and no cracking.

5141

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Walrod D1 and D0.5

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Andrew Breibart

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Hiked warm springs trail from Cement Creek ranch to the intersection of Walrod.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: On an east facing slope on a spoon-shaped feature in Walrod drainage, I observed one D1 and two D0.5 avalanches that slid within the last 24 hours. Both were One D0.5 and the D1 look to have been wind loaded, while a separate D0.5 appears to have been sympathetically triggered from the other D0.5. Both D0.5’s lie below a cornice. The D1 lies downwind of a tree tunnel. I could not see any debris from my vantage point as I stayed out of the Walrod drainage.
Weather: Mostly cloudy transitioning to few clouds. Winds were light.
Snowpack: Generally, HS is 85 cm with about 25 to 30 cm of new snow. Stayed on slopes less than 30 degrees and heard whumps every now and then. On ski out in the saddle between Warm spring Trail head and Middle Cement Creek trail, had one 3 meter shooting crack.

5140

Read Full Observation
12/25/21

Barcelona Natural

Date of Observation: 12/25/2021
Name: Turner Petersen

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Seen from 135

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Barcelona bowl natural during the storm. N Face above tree line breaking to the ground.
Weather: Likely during storm.
Snowpack: PWL

Photos:

5139

Read Full Observation
The blog.