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Payette Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 24, 2020
Submitted:
December 24, 2020
Zone or Region:
Tamarack Out of Bounds
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Lone Tree

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

3 rd foto - enough wind last night to cover yesterday's skin track, this was 500' below the ridge line.

Wind picked up during the day (4th foto)

5th foto, a good reminder of a slope with terrain traps that worry me: Strainers mid-slope and a steep bottom section that ends without a transitional slope/run-out.

6th foto- a sign from Baby Jesus? Happy Holidays!

Today was the 1st day in a week that I did not observe any instabilities and felt like I could travel using moderate hazard protocols in this area, albeit still wandering with caution...

Please submit Obs if your getting out!

Toddeo - Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center Board of Directors

Media

Snow pit
Failure planes in ECT tests
Wind blown snow in skin track
Wind blowning snow on scoured slope.
Terrain traps
Happy Holidays!

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Persistent Slab
Comments: 
Using this since there is not a selection for persistent weak layer. At this point the buried mid-pack facets are persistent and will likely impact stability for awhile. In the snow pit foto below they area dug out and the glove is sitting in the horizon. ECTP21 Q2/3 at the top of this layer, this is a bit more resistant to failure than I have seen in other paces, not sure if it is spatial or due to healing. facets are fist hard with 4-finger above and below.

Another horizon worth noting in this area was a failure below the rain crust which in the area is about 5 cm of pencil hard melt forms. ECTP2 Q2. The weakness below the crust is something to watch in the long-term.

Pit - 7600' NE aspect, HS-95 cm



Second foto shows the two failure planes.
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