Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
December 5, 2022Submitted:
December 5, 2022Observer:
WCMAC - Arden FeldmanZone or Region:
RattlesnakeLocation:
Snowbowl BackcountrySigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
YesCracking?
WidespreadCollapsing?
WidespreadSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
PoorConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
Today we toured up Snowbowl to the Point 6 ridge area. There was light snowfall and overcast skies throughout the day. The temperature was cold. We measured -8 degrees celsius at 7400 ft. Winds were light to moderate out of the west. There was 2-4 inches of new snow overnight. Once we got off the beaten path, we observed widespread cracking and collapsing, and touchy avalanche conditions on facets buried 1.5 ft deep.
Media
Advanced Information
Avalanche Observations
While walking along the ridgeline in the Little Alaska zone, we remotely triggered a small persistent slab avalanche on a NE aspect at 7400 ft. It broke 40 ft wide and 1.5 ft deep, failing on facets (SS-ASr-R1-D1-O). We also observed a larger natural persistent slab avalanche on a N aspect at 7,400 ft that likely failed during the storm late last week. It was 200 feet wide and 1-2 feet deep, failing on facets (SS-N-R2-D2-O).
Snowpack Observations
We dug a pit on an ESE aspect at 7500ft. We found a 1.5 ft deep slab from recent snowfall sitting on a weak layer of facets and surface hoar 2 ft above the ground. The slab failed easily in tests and propagated across the column (ECTP6). See attached snow profile for additional details. We also observed some small wind slab instabilities at upper elevations.