From obs: "I experienced a large, audible collapse and shooting cracks in a 10ft radius around me" Photo: Anonymous
Skied in Hyalite today around 8200ft on some east-facing slopes adjacent to the creek.
HS 25-35cm. Facets on top of depth hoar.
On our first few laps, we did not observe any signs of instability.
We moved to another, slightly steeper area about 400 yards to the south and dug a pit on a 24-degree E-facing slope. ECTN27 up 15cm on a slight density change between the F hard depth hoar and F+ facets above. When we were almost at the top, I experienced a large, audible collapse and shooting cracks in a 10ft radius around me (picture attached). I dug a hand pit and did not observe any significant differences in snow structure or hardness from our test pit location.
We chose to transition and ski from that point. As I began to ski, the slope in front of me collapsed, with shooting cracks about 25ft in length. Both my partner and I experienced collapses the entire way down the slope while skiing.
Skiers felt collapsing while touring near Heather Lake.
From obs: "I got one relatively large collapse as I stepped out in the open near Heather Lake, and then 5-6 smaller ones as I looped around above it."
I went on a little Nordic ski up to heather lake today. Up higher the snowpack is so weak it could barely support my 150 lb body on skis, and I spent a great deal of time wallowing through two feet of facets. There was a widespread, thin layer of hoar frost throughout a good deal of the basin, mainly out in the open. I got one relatively large collapse as I stepped out in the open near heather lake, and then 5-6 smaller ones as I looped around above it.
Skiers in Hyalite experienced many large collapses after the recent storm,
From obs: "Despite the unconsolidated snowpack, I had 25+ significant collapses while breaking trail, with shooting cracks up to 50ft long. The collapses created visible waves on the surface of the snow and shook small trees and weeds sticking through."
Skied in Hyalite around ~8000ft on E and NE aspects. Clear skies, calm winds, beautiful day.
HS ~40cm, composed entirely of basal facets and storm snow. Was easily able to put my poles to the ground basket side down.
Despite the unconsolidated snowpack, I had 25+ significant collapses while breaking trail, with shooting cracks up to 50ft long. The collapses created visible waves on the surface of the snow and shook small trees and weeds sticking through.
pit dug @0930 on E/SE slope. ECTN 14. Observed rollers balls as the morning progressed. put a few lines on the lower-angle meadows.
Skiers on 12/21 saw 2 old avalanches while skiing in the Divide Peak Cirque. These avalanches likely happened near the end of the last storm cycle, 12/9.
From obs: "Saw evidence of two natural avalanches on southwest aspects (see photos). The age of these slides was hard to gauge based on our lack of recent snow."
