Date of Observation: 01/26/2017
Name: Zach Guy
Aspect: North East, East, South East
Elevation: 9,000-10,300 ft
Avalanches: See video. Skier triggered 7 soft slab avalanches 15-20″ deep on the 1/19 surface hoar layer, D1 to D2, depending on terrain size, on E and NE aspects below treeline. One was remote triggered, several were in surprisingly dense aspen trees, several broke onto slope angles as low as 31 and 32 degrees. One broke higher above me than expected and knocked me off my feet. Every slope steep enough to slide went except for slopes that had already naturally avalanched. Also observed a fresh animal triggered and sympathetic slide on a SW aspect below treeline.
Weather: Broken to scattered skies. Minimal precip. Calm winds. Cold temps
Snowpack: The usual bag of tricks aren’t working. No collapsing or cracking observed on low angle terrain, stability tests weren’t concerning, yet every slope we touched steeper than 33 degrees avalanched on surface hoar about 15-20″ deep. Test results were:
SE aspect, 10200 ft in sparse aspens. No surface hoar observed, ECTN H, BRK 30cm deep on small, rounding facets.
NE aspect, 10100 ft in a windsheltered opening. 1mm SH 33 cm deep. ECTN M, PC/BRK on the surface hoar.
In the past 3 days, I have yet to find propagating results in an ECT but getting consistent avalanches on the surface hoar layer. The ECT appears to be unreliable for our current conditions, or else spatial variability is very pronounced.
D1 animal triggered and sympathetic slide. SW aspect BTL, new in past 24 hours. Tracks in and tracks out…all good.
Natural that ran during the storm in relatively thick aspens.
Skier triggered slide in relatively thick aspens
Crowns were all 15-20″ thick, on the 1/19 SH.
Remotely triggered slide from 20 feet away.
Skier triggered from edge of path, propagated back to 32 degree slope.
Skier triggered, pulled out to 31 degree ridge.