21-22

This large avalanche on the south face of Mount Abundance occurred on President's Day. Unknown if human-triggered or natural. Photo: A Bertolino

Riders saw a large avalanche on the south face of Mount Abundance on Monday. Photo: A Bertolino

Today I toured up Mt Ellis and skied down a northeast aspect. I gained the north ridge around 11am, and there was a strong wind from the north (see photo). When checking out the snow, the effect of this wind was quite apparent with only about 10cm of recent snow high up on the ridge. Further down, and in the trees, the new snow total increased to 15-20cm. Unfortunately, my dog disagreed with my choice of location to test the snow and continued much further downslope, but I was able to get a few hand pits in. The new snow bonded quite well, and I observed only minor sluffing on the descent. 

Natural dry loose avalanches that we saw on 2/21/22. Probably ran this morning. Photo: GNFAC

From email: "We were sledding and I was riding up below the steeper part of the hill and set this off above me. I was able to ride out untouched. We estimated it was 200 feet wide and 50 feet tall and a foot deep at the crown. Because of the small gully that was there before it slid it would’ve easily buried someone. We guessed there was at least 5 feet of snow burying the gully or low spot next to the hill." 

Spent the night up here and dug a pit on the North side of Big Timber Creek on a south-facing aspect, 25 degree slope angle.  There was exposed talus above and to skier's left.

110cm depth - top 10cm of this is new snow, actively falling
95-100cm is a thick melt-freeze crust making a nice bed surface for loose slabs

I had a CT11 failing simultaneously at 80cm and 90cm.  The ECT didn't propagate the fracture across the whole column though.

A layer at 34cm failed on facets only when prying the remaining column gently with my shovel.