Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | No |
Avalanche Type | Wet Slab | Aspect | Southeast |
Elevation | 4000ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
Vertical Run | unknown |
The goal of my tour was to assess rapidly warming snow surfaces, document recent avalanches, and look at structure on southerly aspects to help predict a wet-slab cycle. On a south aspect at 3800′ I found two melt layers 15cm and 35 cm deep, numerous moist to wet layers, and red flags indicative of a wet slab problem.
Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | No |
Avalanche Type | Wet Slab | Aspect | Southeast |
Elevation | 4000ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
Vertical Run | unknown |
SE aspect of Skyscraper 4000', Natural wet loose that triggered a wet slab. We saw a few of these combos today in various locations.
Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Rapid warming today with recent wet loose and wet slabs observed on SE, S, SW, and W aspects above 3500'.
No new snow since 4/11-13
Light winds kept snow surfaces slightly cooler today
Temps:
4500': 10am 33degF, 1pm 42deg F
3550': 10am 35degF, 1pm 37deg F- no freeze overnight on 4/20
2700': 10am 41 degF, 1pm 43degF- no freeze overnight on 4/20 with slight freeze on 4/19
Snow surfaces are variable depending on aspect and slope angle (angle of incidence to sun) and range from crust to cream cheese to soft butter. Slight changes in aspect make a big difference.
see pit
no propagation
4.21 arkose wet loose
4/21 Arkose wet loose triggered wet slab
4/21 Martin Mine wet loose debris covered old debris from 4/13
4.21pitsidewall south aspect 3900'
4/20 Rae Wallace wet loose on SW gully sidewalls
Rounded poly crystals
4/21 Skyscraper SE aspect 4000, Natural wet-loose that triggered a wet slab avalanche.
4/21 Wet loose triggers wet slab, Skyscraper SE aspect 4000'
4/21 Wet loose/slab Eldorado Bowl
Wet loose debris on SW Marmot
Wet loose debris in Rae Wallace boot back from SW side walls and covering actual boot pack
Look closely and you can see melt water in this layer at 140 cm
Very wet snow from 35 cm deep on south aspect
Marmot_Microdot-21-Apr