Tuesday, March 4 Observations & Wednesday, March 5 Avalanche Outlook

Observations – Tuesday, March 4, 2014 – Arctic Valley Backcountry

Signs of instability:

  • None

Weather:

  • Cloudy with flurries and more consistent snow at times, but still very light
  • Moderate SE wind
  • Temps in the upper teens

Surface Conditions:

  • Mostly soft but supportable crusts on NW Gordon Lyon (harder, scratchier crusts on south side of ridgeline)
  • Small pockets of icier crust and raised anti-tracks

Discussion:

Snowpack profiled and assessed in the start zone of the skier’s right bowl off the summit of Gordon Lyon’s NW aspect (location of 1/16/14 human triggered avalanche – common skier’s right path above lower terrain trap):Screen shot 2014-03-04 at 10.28.07 PMgl pitgl pit downgl pit acrossgl pit layersGordon Lyon 3:4:14

Avalanche Outlook – Wednesday, March 5, 2014

ds-mod

Click here to see the complete danger scale

The avalanche danger will increase with new snow and wind through Wednesday.  The primary concern will be mid to upper elevation (above ~3000′) wind slabs on leeward aspects (predominantly NW near peaks and ridge crests) and cross-loaded terrain features (e.g. gully sidewalls).

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