Probably already reported...but touchy storm slabs on Mt Blackmore. Attached is a photo of a natural from the approach, at the switchbacks to the upper basin.
Saw a fairly large (could bury a person) slide while heading up to ski on mt Blackmore. It was on a north aspect at around 8700 ft. It seemed to have failed in the recent storm snow, some wind may have made the slab a little thicker. The debris covered a portion of yesterday’s ski track. Higher in the bowl we found unstable snow around ridge lines, with several small loose sluffs coming down.
Wind slabs were the issue today. A lot had changed since Thursday when it was all sunshine and deep powder. Winds picked up and changed the landscape.
We found two small wind slabs that had released on their own, then watched a big one release froM a falling cornice, then triggered a small one (expected).
Overall, winds were the perfect speeds for moving snow which they did all day. Looking south, there was a massive plume coming off Mt Bole.
Wind slab Blackmore south bowl - 10 Jan 2025
Wind slab along Blackmore trail. Good clue before we got above treeline where more wind was blowing and moving snow
We triggered this wind slab by triggering a smaller one above it while descending the NE ridge of Blackmore.
~10-12" deep and 25' wide
Big wind slab on N face of Mt Blackmore. We watched it cut loose at 14:25 from cornice fall.
Good news is that it didn't trigger a deeper slide.
Wind slabs were the issue today. A lot had changed since Thursday when it was all sunshine and deep powder. Winds picked up and changed the landscape.
We found two small wind slabs that had released on their own, then watched a big one release froM a falling cornice, then triggered a small one (expected).
Overall, winds were the perfect speeds for moving snow which they did all day. Looking south, there was a massive plume coming off Mt Bole.
Side note - temps in the trees were mostly hovering just above freezing. Lots of tree bombs dropping. The snow surface was a little damp by afternoon. Up high, the powder was still great where winds hadn't touched it.
