From obs: 1/8/22: "...One minor avalanche observed in Republic Creek. It was on a steep and rocky E, NE aspect around 9700'..." Photo: B. Fredlund
Skiers reported on 1/8/21: "Observed natural north Scotch Bonnett"
From obs: 1/8/22: "Observed natural north Scotch Bonnet". Ran during storm 1/6-1/8. Photo: D. Wycoff
Naturally triggered Avalanche on North North East aspect. Heavy wind loading evident. The slide appeared to be recent, 24 to 48 hours old.
Naturally triggered Avalanche on North North East aspect. Heavy wind loading evident. The slide appeared to be recent, 24 to 48 hours old.
My partner and I skied from Beehive into Middle and Bear Basin today. We noticed wind stripped aspects, lots of wind affect on the snow, and massive cornices along the ridgeline from Beehive to Middle Basin. We dug a pit at 9900 ft on our approach up to Middle Peak summit. The snowpack was deep here - I bottomed out my 280 cm probe and would assume at that location (45.4397, -111.3831) the snowpack is nearly 300cm deep. We dug a 120cm pit and got no reactive test results. The upper feet of the snowpack consists of new wind blown snow and pencil hard snow with a few noticeable density changes. One other thing to note was on the approach up to Middle Basin from Beehive and on our way out back to Beehive, ski penetration was often 30cm or above. In those thinner areas of the snowpack, it felt weaker and faceted underneath our feet.
Observed natural north Scotch Bonnett
Went for a tour up Blackmore, dug a pit high on the East face. Included approx location. Snow depth was 100cm, I got ECT-P 21 in my test. Broke 35cm down, fist to 4F cohesive wind slab breaking on a 5cm thick layer of 1-2mm facets. Q1, and at least two additional obvious layers from 60 cm to the ground. Lotta facets from 40cm to the ground.
That kind of slab is my ultimate scary moderate. I backed off the slope and skied mellow terrain out. Calm skies, cold. Snow had been impacted by wind all the way down, funky and variable. Beautiful day to be out though!
Recent Avalanches? None
Observed Cracking? None
Experienced Collapsing? None
The snowpack is generally quite solid, except for the interface under the storm snow. Use caution on wind loaded slopes that could break at the
bottom of the storm snow layer or within the drifted snow slab. Steep slopes can still pose a problem considering the addition of extra weight coming during the next 24 hours.
