Public Observation

Location:

Lick Creek Summit terrain

Did you observe any avalanches? 

Yes

Comments:

A team of guides/instructors from Payette Powder Guides observed many avalanches in and around the Lick Creek Summit terrain this past weekend. Most of these avalanches ran R4-R5. Most of these avalanches were the largest/longest/widest avalanches observed in the past 7 years or more. Most of these avalanches included multiple and complex crowns and most of these avalanches initiated on a shallower layer (approximately 15cm-30cm) and then stepped down to buried persistent layers (approximately 45cm-70cm) lurking within the snowpack. Some of these avalanches appear to be pushed past their tipping point by the addition of wind-transported snow, however all of the avalanches observed appear to be failing on persistent grain types/layers within the snowpack. Test profiles and snowpack tests done near crown lines did not always show propagation potential (CTM SP @26cm, ECTN 13@26cm) (CTM SP @ 45cm)