Date of Observation: 03/23/2023
Name: Eric Murrow
Zone: Northwest Mountains
Route Description: View from Elkton Knob.
Observed avalanche activity: Yes
Avalanches: Obvious natural cycle on Wednesday 3/22. Numerous avalanches broke near the storm interface on easterly aspects below treeline on Purple Ridge and Schuylkill Ridge near Pittsburg. Many of the easterly avalanches appeared to run late on 3/22. Looking at the up valley end of Schuylkill Ridge there was lots of evidence of avalanches running earlier in the storm but visibility was poor and I wouldn’t see crowns and debris was difficult to read. Atleast one avalanche near the last forested area before the Great Wide Open reportedly ran early Thursday morning. I never really got a good view of Scarp Ridge or the spine of the Ruby Range; I suspect there is more natural activity I was unable to see.
Weather: Mostly cloudy skies with periodic light snowfall obscured views.
Snowpack:
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- This avalanche on Schuylkill Ridge reportedly ran on Thursday morning. Looks to involve only the recent storm snow.
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- Numerous avalanches broke at the base of the storm snow on low elevation bench terrain near Pittsburg. Many of the gullies in this image appeared to have debris but it was difficult to read in the marginal light.
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- A pile of east-facing avalanches below and near treeline on Purple RIdge broke late in the storm.
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- A few more avalanches from easterly terrain in Purple Palace. Those are old glide cracks in the bottom of the image.
