Observations

Date of Observation: 01/27/2023
Name: Observation to CBAC Via Text Message

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: East Bowl – Anthracites

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Kicked off small windslab btl east aspect on a small convex steep roll. 12″ deep ran 30 feet before stopping in flats. Basically end of trees on top pitch of East Bowl where at rolls steep, aka the cirque.
Weather:
Snowpack:

5939

Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Sophia Todorov

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: RMBL Snow Study Plot in parking lot in front of Dining Hall

Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: partly cloudy, calm, about 6 degrees F
Snowpack: Snowpack is 116cm. The top ~half~ (65cm-116cm) is snow from the most recent storm cycles that has settled greatly, ranging from F at the top to 1F firmness at the bottom of the layer. This is followed by a relatively strong P layer (32cm-65cm). The snowpack is still maintaining the weak F layer from 15cm to 32cm, but it is buried deep now. And, as a result, we did not observe any collapse or propagation during an extended column test. ECTX.

Photos:

5938

Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Eric Murrow

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Cement Creek TH to Hunter Hill. Skin up SE slopes to 12,000 feet. Skies modest angled northeast slopes 12,000 – 11,600. Skied southeast 12,000 – 10,400.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: A trio of recent Wind Slabs on east aspects of Hunter Hill above treeline, D1.5 and D2. Looking into the greater Elk Mountains, it was hard to view with marginal lighting but looked like maybe a few other recent wind slabs but the photos were inconclusive.
Weather: Cold temperatures at valley bottom were below zero but slowly increased during day and as we ascended out of the inversion zone. Temps at 12,000 feet maybe hit 10 degrees. Winds out of NW remained light with some moderate gusting. Very little snow transport was observed as most windward surfaces near and above 12,000 feet were stiff and lacked soft snow for transport.
Snowpack: No signs of instability underfoot outside of some minor cracking in drifted snow above treeline. Drifted slabs above treeline were stiff and hard. Depth on southeast slopes in this area ranged from 130 – 150 cm. Depth in a northeast-facing basin was around 160cm near treeline. A test profile produced no concerning results but the mid-December weak layer remains 4-finger hard, under a 100cm slab. with clear signs of rounding (see photo). Snow surfaces remained dry on all aspects and provided excellent skiing where protected from the wind. Near surface facets formed on slopes protected from the wind; sizes are generally .5 – .7mm.

Photos:

5936

Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Irwin Guides

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Irwin Guides Cat-Ski tenure

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: 1st shot of the season in Eyes of the World ran O/G with a 3# hand charge on an
unsupported slope skiers left below the rock band. Impressive hard slab with car size blocks smoking small
trees.
New World HS-AE-R3-D2.5-O FC (180cm x 40m x 180m)
Weather:
Snowpack:

Photos:

5935

Date of Observation: 01/26/2023
Name: Travis Colbert

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Red lady skin track to the summit. Redwell Basin to Wrong Chute. 9,000-12,400ft NW, N & NE aspects.

Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches:
Weather: Clear & cold. -24 degrees at the Slate TH, probably low teens on the summit. Minimal wind.
Snowpack: Entrance (NW aspect) was very wind impacted, but the sastrugi was surprisingly soft. A few hundred feet down, the snow transitioned to relatively consistent, dense powder. The lower we went, the softer the snow, with the best turns in the belly of Wrong Chute (or in this case right chute…let the confusion persist for eternity). Seems like the snowpack is becoming more faceted during this dry, cold spell.

5934

Date of Observation: 01/25/2023
Name: Irwin Guides

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Upper Upper Westwall mitigation work.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Shallow wind slabs (4-6″ deep) ATL on W aspects specific to terrain features. Large HE tests in the New World produced cracking to the ground in loaded pockets in the Thimble. In Thread/ Needle the AB only released surface snow which picked up enough speed to almost run full track. 1 large collapse with 3# covershot in the entrance to Thread.

5933

Date of Observation: 01/25/2023
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: The southern side of Ruby Peak to 12,000′.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Intentionally triggered a fresh wind slab that was about a foot thick and 40′ wide, D1 in size, on a windloaded east aspect near treeline. Triggered several other minor pockets on small features.
Weather: Light snowfall, light to moderate winds with periods of blowing snow. Cold temps.
Snowpack: Sensitive fresh drifts ranged from 3″ to 12″ thick, with frequent localized cracking and occasional collapses and shooting cracks on drifted features. Some slabs were cracking on precip particles, some were on a layer of near-surface facets that formed during the recent dry weather.
A profile targeting a relatively shallow slope similar to the one that avalanched on Ruby a week ago produced unreactive test results. The slab was about 5 feet deep, up to pencil hard near its base, on 1F- rounding facets (1mm).

Photos:

5932

Date of Observation: 01/25/2023
Name: Travis Colbert

Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: Standard up track on the SE end of Schuylkill ridge. Descended to the valley floor just north of Snake in the Grass or Snakey (or whatever it is called). 9,200-11,400ft; mostly NE aspect.

Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Ski triggered a very small windslab (6″ deep, 20′ wide) on a steep rollover in open terrain (obviously wind affected snow) on one of the lower benches (9,800 feet). No big deal, but could have been a bigger deal in more consequential terrain. We also saw a moose!

5931

Date of Observation: 01/24/2023

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Toured from gravel pit

Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: We saw and heard no signs of instability except near tree line on wind exposed ridges. Small natural shallow releases on steep slopes. Nothing significant.
Weather: High clouds, light west winds and cold temps.
Snowpack: 120-150cm. Mostly uniform on the tour. Supportable mid pack. Pole probing showed a small weaker layer near the ground but we did not effect it on our ski or skin. Ski penetration was 20-30cm

5930

Date of Observation: 01/24/2023
Name: Zach Guy

Zone: Southeast Mountains
Route Description: Red Mountain below treeline

Observed avalanche activity: No
Avalanches: Did not travel near avalanche terrain.
Snowpack: See attached pit from a below treeline, NE facing slope. Moderate sudden collapse, propagating results below a 4F slab on both the mid-December weak layer (1-1.5 rounding facets) and 11/28 layer (3-5 mm depth hoar), both fist hard. Total snow depth here is 95 cm.

Photos:

5929