Public Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

I was able to observe the aftermath of the recent natural avalanche cycle in the Crestline/Box Lake/Beaverdam areas. I observed numerous wet loose avalanches with start zones in the 7500-8000' on all aspects, minus due north terrain which my route didn't take me through. I also observed ~2 crowns from more well defined slab avalanches on east-facing slopes. In a few isolated, protected areas I found above 7500' - mainly E/NE aspects - where the snow from before the warmup had been preserved, I observed shooting cracks which seemed to be a result of the few inches of new snow and wind (3/4) that had formed wind slab in these areas. Overall the terrain I traveled through was wind scoured and very firm, with small pockets of wind-deposited snow on top of the rain crust. Travel was challenging in steep terrain due to the firm surface, minus south aspects after they had softened a bit.