22-23

We dug a pit on a W/WNW slope at around 9100 ft in the republic creek drainage. CT 18 and ECTN34 (ECTX then we hit it extra hard 4 more times) on the weak layer about 70 cm down. But overall snowpack was upright and it seemed to be settling down more than we thought. But then as we approached the ridge we triggered 5 separate large collapses ("Whumphs"), all on WSW/SW slopes (between 8700 and 9200 ft). Pole probes revealed a light crust about 12 inches down. 

Leaving Cooke on 12/3 we saw eight natural avalanches that likely broke on 12/2. Estimate more than 50% of slopes facing north, 8,000-9,000' had crowns 2-4' deep. The largest on Old Man Ray's below republic was R3-D2.5, 500' wide, 1,000' vertical (separately recorded). There were a couple, possibly larger, on Thunderer in the park, but low light made them difficult to confirm.

Leaving Cooke on 12/3 we saw many natural avalanches that likely broke on 12/2. Estimate more than 50% of slopes facing north, 8,000-9,000' had crowns 2-4' deep. The largest on Old Man Ray's below republic was R3-D2.5, 400+' wide, 1,000' vertical. There were a couple, possibly larger, on Thunderer in the park, but low light made them difficult to confirm.

From IG 12/3: Confirming more of what you saw, lots of large natural avalanches up high. Most notable was this massive slide on fox, looks to have broke 2-6’ deep and over 1000’ wide. Couldn’t quite see the toe from our tour but it looked to have run over 1000’ vertical. Never have seen one so large on Fox… 

Obs 12/3/22:

"Large collapses on primarily solar aspects (S/SE, ~9,500’)."

"Lots of whumphing but not much (if any) cracking...:"

Toured up to Bacon Rind today and skied meadows off of the ridge. Noted many collapses and whumpfs in the snowpack as we ascended east aspects to the ridge. Looking toward Ernie Miller ridge, we noted an old crown in the main bowl just below the summit. It was on an E-NE aspect, 200 or more feet wide and looked to be filled in with new snow but was still visible. Looking east from the top of the ridge, we noted another crown on a west aspect that looked to be about 100' wide and deep.