Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG
Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Also, there was many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek.
From obs: "We found up to a 6” deep wind slab producing shooting cracks at Goose Lake on a NW facing slope at 10500ft."
We also witnessed a falling cornice today that washed some snow through rocks. Be aware of what's above you.
Expected to find a different snowpack in the area southwest of Cooke/Silvergate, but once again we found deep (HS 235cm), strong, stable snow.
Digging more than a foot or two into the snowpack is a chore. Even the north-facing snow below 8000' is incredibly dense and supportive.
It seems like recent warm weather really helped consolidate the snowpack.
Don't take this good stability for granted - Even though the snowpack is generally stable, there is still trouble to be found in more consequential terrain. In one area, we did find some upside-down snow. It seemed stable, but in very steep terrain, even a small pocket releasing can cause trouble. We also witnessed a falling cornice today that washed some snow through rocks. Be aware of what's above you.
Above Goose Creek -hard, dense, strong, and deep snow. Facets from late January are 1F+ hardness
Rode to the wilderness boundary and skied a lap above Goose Lake. Dug in two places - all hard, dense, strong, deep snow
Rode above Goose Creek. Dug in two places along the very steep, north-facing slopes above the creek. Same. All hard, dense, strong, and deep snow. Facets from late January are buried about a meter deep and 1Finger+ hardness.
We were digging about 700 feet above the two persistent slab that were avalanches triggered on Feb 24th (about a week and a half ago). We didn't see any indication that that is a widespread problem. We didn't see any recent avalanches either.
Digging down to the late-January facets was a pain in the a$%. It seems like when it's becoming a pain to dig down to a weak layer, it's usually not much of problem anymore.
