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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 23, 2022 - November 23, 2022
Submitted:
November 24, 2022
Observer:
Pro
Zone or Region:
Boulder/Jughandle Area
Location:
West facing 7,700'

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
No direct instabilities but current conditions will lead to instabilities with more of a load.

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Worsening

Bottom Line

Snow pack is changing with last nights small storm. The weak, faceted snow is now covered with a couple of inches of heavy snow capped with a rime "zipper" crust (see photo) on west aspects. We will be slowly creeping out of the "1st one's free kid" situation of being able to travel with impunity (except for the thin snow pack of course).

For those who would like to submit obs, but don't want to give away where they are skiing/riding, Please feel free to be a bit vague with your location like I did in this OB. the information is still valuable to the PAC forecasters.

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Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Partly Cloudy
Temperature:
warming
Wind:
Calm

A warmer damp day than the past week.

Snowpack Observations

HST 2" capped by a rime "zipper" crust above 7,400 feet or so on west aspects. Not present in lee of trees or east aspects. A trace of graupel on top of the crust. Travel conditions are markedly different than it has been on the previous weak, faceted snow.

Avalanche Problems

There has been enough wind activity to drift snow and fill in an old skin track (see photo above). Drifts up to 12" deep. The new snow and crust was cracking a bit in a localized fashion (see photo), not a real concern at this point, more of an indicator that the underlying weak, rotted snow will not support much weight in the future. These issues are not worth breaking out into individual problems at this point. I would assume that there is some increased hazard in upper elevation areas.

Terrain Use

Still Traveling as per thin snow and booby traps aplenty!

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