Observation Date:
December 17, 2022
Submitted:
December 18, 2022
Zone or Region:
Banner Summit
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Copper Mountain and surrounding aspects up to 9000’.
Did you observe any avalanches?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
8800’
Aspect:
NE
Comments:
Today I found the most reactive and sensitive parts of the snowpack to be in wind drifted terrain. Winds were light to moderate with higher gusts to the NE. Wind affected terrain was reactive and wind slabs were easily triggered remotely, up to 50’ away from safe vantage points along ridge lines. Observed 6"-14" slabs that broke and fell down slopes, without producing much more avalanche activity. In steeper terrain I would be concerned about slab activity stepping down into the snowpack. Steeper N -NE facing terrain would be where I would expect to find greatest activity risk as there is a lot of SAFT from recent storms, as well as our deep persistent problem.
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
No
Other than wind slab reactivity, I did not observe an unstable snowpack. I know that our deep persistent problem is less sensitive in this zone. I sought terrain where I felt finding these avalanche problems to be the least likely. Skied low angle, SE, sheltered terrain.