Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
November 18, 2022 - November 18, 2022Submitted:
November 18, 2022Observer:
ProZone or Region:
Goose Lake AreaLocation:
GraniteSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
IsolatedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
ModerateStability Trend:
SteadyBottom Line
Main avalanche concern was isolated wind slabs in alpine terrain. Lots of wind effects from north winds in higher elevations, settled soft snow in middle elevation shady aspects. Widespread near surface faceting (future weak layer) in sheltered shady terrain. We felt comfortable in avalanche terrain on non wind affected slopes. Found 1.5-3 feet.
Media
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
ClearTemperature:
28Wind:
Moderate , NECool in the shade but comfortable in the sun with a chilly wind along the ridge.
Avalanche Observations
Did not see any signs of avalanche.
Snowpack Observations
Dug a quick pit on a due north aspect at 8000’ in a wind loaded area. Found 40 inches total with a reactive surface wind slab. The snowpack was right side up and didn’t have any glaring weak layers. Found wet basal facets on top of the rocks that I was able to make a snowball out. Not much concern with current snowpack but variable surface conditions will be problematic moving forward with our next snowfall.
Avalanche Problems
| Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wind Slab
|
|
Layer Depth/Date: 3 inches Minor wind slabs along the ridge not too reactive and isolated. |
Terrain Use
We ventured into the wind textured alpine and found a mixed bag of surface conditions. Wind board, wind textured but soft snow, solar crusts, and wind sheltered soft snow. Early season conditions kept us out of steeper rocky terrain. Thinner snow around rocks was noticeable weakening due to prolonged cold temperatures.
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