23-24

Skiers triggered this small windslab while skinning near a steeprollover at the top of an East facing slope above Zimmer Creek. Crown was ~20 ft wide and ran a similar distance. 2"-10" at the deepest. Photo: G. Roe

Skiers in Frazier Basin triggered several small wind slabs and saw widespread cracking on NW-facing terrain. Photo: C. Bayles

Triggered this small windslab while skinning near a steeprollover at the top of an East facing slope above Zimmer Creek. Crown was ~20 ft wide and ran a similar distance. 2"-10" at the deepest. 

We toured over south Bacon Rind and into Ernie Miller Ridge today. The weather was variable, alternating between periods of calm winds and warm sun, and periods of heavy cloud cover, snow, and high winds. At the summit winds were strong out of the SW, but previous wind deposits further down pointed towards recent Northerly winds. These were strong enough to scour snow off the crust, and create drifts up to a foot deep. The sun was also affecting the snow surface, rapidly warming and wetting the snow above the crust. This wet snow was not bonding well to the crust. Some cold snow remained and made for good skiing.

We took the variability of the snowpack and the risks of a consequential slide into account and traveled through moderate terrain, avoiding excessive exposure.

From obs: "Saw small avalanches on almost every wind loaded slope out of fairy lake. The one we spotted in the pomp twins had a defined crown roughly 100ft across." J. Alford

From obs: "Saw small avalanches on almost every wind loaded slope out of fairy lake. The one we spotted in the pomp twins had a defined crown roughly 100ft across." J. Alford