Snow Observations List

From a phone call with a friend: "Pretty sure we remote triggered this slide while skiing down a low angle ridge next to it. We saw it while we were ascending the uptrack and it wasnt there on our first lap."

2 Pics are from highway and are from the next day.

N-NW Facing slope at 7600ft. approx 100 cm deep. some stepped down to ground. approx 250 feet across and ran 3-400ft vertical. Large dangerous avalanche.

Accessed low angle settled powder runs via mellow ridge terrain adjacent to a known avalanche path which is steep, rocky and windloaded. We descended on lower angle terrain following uptrack. On second lap observed the crown and debris while climbing uptrack and suspected we remote triggered; it was not there on first lap. Slope angle 35-38 degrees estimated. Estimate crown depth 60-120 cms. Estimated debris depth 2-3 meters due to terrain trap of an abrupt transition to flat terrain at bottom of path. We did not approach the crown or debris due to hangfire. Starting Zone NE facing at 9100' on wind loaded convexity with unsupported terrain below and rocky bed surface and exposed rocks/cliffs. I would classify it as HS-ASur-R4-D2.5-O

Large collapses with cracks connecting weak spots in the snowpack for 50 feet around us while breaking trail. Slab has gotten quite a bit thicker and more cohesive with 3 inches SWE in past 14 days combined with relatively warm temps promoting settling, strong solar input on the southerlies, and some wind. Average snow depth 100 cms consisting of a F-1Fslab on top of 20-30 cms of large facets. A crust in between on solar aspects. There is a density break/layer of NSF in the slab you can see in some of the photos where it appeared to shear between those layers. A very scary snowpack even for the Pioneers which regularly harbor PWLs throughout the season.

Early season quick obs..........in late January.

Pioneer Mountains have about 60 cms of snow at 8,500 feet consistent with Mule Creek Snotel obs.

Structure is, not suprisingly, very poor, see photo. 30 cms of Fist to 4F newer snow from last 2 weeks sits on top of 2 layers of faceted snow (3mm - 5mm). Lacks a slab in many places but anywhere wind or sun have firmed up the top layer there is cracking and collapsing as seen in the photo.

Reports of the roadcuts on Pioneer Scenic Byway slid natural this past weekend. Common indicator slopes.