tipping point

CB Avalanche Center2016-17 Observations

Location: Kebler Pass Area
Date of Observation: 01/20/2017
Name: jeff banks
Subject: tipping point
Aspect: East, West
Elevation: 9,200-12,200

Avalanches: SS-R3-D1.5/2? (poor visibility) W facing, 9,600ft, ~270ft wide opposite the R.L. skin track in gulley feature, anything steep ~40* had a distinct crown with ~10cm refill

SS-R1-D1.5/D2 (poor vis)~150ft wide E facing ~@ 11,300 E facing just right to skin trick ~38-40* ~10cm refill~ unknown amount of debris below in forest, still a good amount of “slumped” snow on the bed surface.

and a few small D1 pockets on Kebler road
Weather: S1-S2
West light to Mod
Snowpack: exposed areas 20-30cm drifts in skin track in short period of time
fresh cornice development

easy shears under HST ~30-35cm in FC/SH layer on crust. besides the 2 avalanches, , no propagation seen underfoot.