A skier got a collapse and crack in Lick Creek. The collapse has sizeable displacement which is indicative of a very thick and unstable weak layer. Photo: W. Casper
A backcountry skier wrote, "...observed a fairly large, cornice-triggered avalanche on an east aspect at 9600’ that looked to be several hours old. The crown was 40-100 cm deep, and it looked like it failed about 20 cm into the facets that make up the lower half of the snowpack in this region."
A backcountry skier wrote, "...observed a fairly large, cornice-triggered avalanche on an east aspect at 9600’ that looked to be several hours old. The crown was 40-100 cm deep, and it looked like it failed about 20 cm into the facets that make up the lower half of the snowpack in this region."
I toured up to Divide basin today, and found excellent surface conditions for skiing. There was about 1” of new snow that was being blown around by moderate winds down lower, but the ridgelines looked like they were getting hammered. I experienced one collapse on a low angle, east aspect at 9400’ while ascending an old skin track on my second lap. It looked like a prior party had gotten ECTX in a snow pit nearby, so the little bit of snow has changed things.
I also observed a fairly large, cornice-triggered avalanche on an east aspect at 9600’ that looked to be several hours old. The crown was 40-100 cm deep, and it looked like it failed about 20 cm into the facets that make up the lower half of the snowpack in this region.
From obs: "This morning I was ascending Flanders Peak via the southeast trees. At approximately 1:30PM, on our second lap of the south-southeast bowl of Flanders Peak, I was skinning behind my friend who was putting in a new ascent track when we both heard a large "whump" and a 15 foot crack shot out from under his skis. I also witnessed him drop several inches from the large collapse in the snow. We were on a very low angle slope (less than 25 degrees) at approximately 9700 feet, in wide open trees right at the edge of tree-line and the alpine. We noticed no other signs of instability in the bowl we skied, or on the wind-loaded ridge."
A first person account: "Human triggered avalanche at (estimate) 1:30pm from upper 'Avalanche Gulch' by one party descending from 'Dribbles'. Climber on second moderate pitch of 'Avalanche Gulch' swept but saved by screw placement from going over pitch 1 of Avalanche Gulch. No injuries, no burials, and both parties reconvened at base of Avalanche Gulch to assess the event. All parties descended at 3pm."
More info:
Human triggered avalanche at (estimate) 1:30pm from upper 'Avalanche Gulch' by one party ascending from 'Dribbles'. Climber on second moderate pitch of 'Avalanche Gulch' swept but saved by screw placement from going over pitch 1 of AG. No injuries, no burials, and both parties reconvened at base of AG to assess the event. All parties descended at 3pm.
Toured in Hyalite main fork today and found decent powder skiing in protected trees up high. No signs of instability observed: no recent avalanches, no cracking, no collapses.
The winds receded throughout the day and the temps gradually dropped while broken skies developed before a final wallop of snowfall around 3pm (S2+ rate) during our exit ski.
It did seem like the open upper elevation slopes all showed surface texture evidence of the the significant wind overnight/this morning. We opted to not mess with them.
Quick pit at 9050' NE aspect HS 140cm with a pronounced facet/decomposing melt freeze crust combo buried ~1m down underneath the solid seeming mid-pack. ECTP27@38cm on the facets above the decomposing crust. Looks like the upper elevation snow pack is headed in the right direction... but still has a way to go before it can actually be trusted.
From obs: "Skied Mt Blackmore this morning. Very windy up in the basin, but calm along the ridgeline. Lots of signs of wind-loading and drifting on most slopes. I felt/heard 3 collapses while ascending the trees up to the east ridge. Saw a debris pile on the N face, likely from a cornice fall in the last 24hrs."
