Public Field Report
Observation Details
Observation Date:
January 8, 2020Submitted:
January 8, 2020Zone or Region:
Galena Summit and Eastern MtnsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Avalanche Peak and Punchbowl ZonesObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
9130Aspect:
NEComments:
This avalanche likely ran during the 1/1/20 High Danger timeframe as the crown was muted by new snowfall. It was difficult to discern the extent and D scale size from where we were, but could have been up to D2 in size.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Today we toured in two groups. One up the East Ridge of Avalanche Peak to around 8550 feet. The group there dug snow profiles on a SE Aspect and found disturbing results on the 12/7 Buried SH. PST 37/100 End and ECTP23 both on the same layer down 58cm.
The second group headed up toward the Punchbowl and then wrapped west toward Point 9130 where they saw the old crown near the top of the main gully. See avalanche observation above. The profile here was at around 8550 as well and on an East aspect.
See profile graphs from both group below. They tell a very different story for how similar in location elevation and aspect they were. As a touring group we are not stepping into large, planar slopes in avalanche terrain because of continued uncertainty regarding the weak layers buried deeply in the snowpack.
Media
