Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Snow Stability

Bottom Line

We traveled up to Gash Knob today to look for recent avalanches due to warm temperatures this week and check if the layer above the March 1st crust is still reactive.

We observed:

• Rollerballs and small wet point releases on most terrain steeper than approximately 40 degrees from 7,000 to 8,000 feet had occurred earlier this week, most likely on Wednesday or Thursday.
• Looking into the North Fork Bear Creek drainage, we saw debris from multiple small wet point releases, and wet slab avalanches, up to D2, in the steep north and east-facing slide paths.
• The snow surfaces were supportable with 1 to 2 inches of surface melt at 1 pm for elevations above 7,000 feet.
• The snowpack is isothermic and mushy below 6,500 feet.
• Approximately 4 inches (10 cm) of sticky dry rounding snow sits above the March 1st crust is 11 inches (28 cm) deep at 7,800 feet on a north aspect. Snowpack tests (ECTN12 and PST80/100) show it has become less reactive.
• We found no snow is available for transport up to 8,300 feet.
• North aspects above 8,000 feet have an inch of sticky newer snow over a supportable melt-freeze crust.
• Large cornices linger over steep easterly ridgelines.