Date of Observation: 01/25/2017
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North East, East, South East, South West
Elevation: 10,000-11,500
Avalanches: There were several recent natural slab avalanches that ran below easterly facing ridgelines near treeline, with long running debris D1 to D2 in size. We skier triggered a couple harmless 8″ soft slabs on east aspects near treeline; they appeared to fail on the SH layer.
Weather: Cold temps. Moderate westerly winds with light snow transport. Broken to overcast skies, S-1.
Snowpack: Traveled in the far southern part of our forecast area, which has gotten less snow out of these last few storms. Below treeline, there is about 8″ over the 1/19 surface hoar layer, which was relatively benign given the thin slab. Widespread, localized cracking on this layer, which we found on NE, E, and SE aspects, but not SW. Near treeline, we found drifts up to 40 cm, and propagating results on a mid-storm layer.
Wind loaded East aspect NTL
Widespread but small cracking on the 1/19 SH
Buried SH below treeline