Public Field Report

Observation Date:

February 27, 2020

Submitted:

February 28, 2020

Zone or Region:

Banner Summit

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Cape Horn

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

8500 ft

Aspect:

Comments:

Saw multiple solar wet loose slides on south facing slopes most of the started by rock outcroppings. These looked like they slide before this past storm since they appeared to have a small amount of snow covering the debris.

Photo:

None reported

Sun and wind have pretty much effected most slopes and aspects that we came across. Alpine north facing was pretty wind effected and the solar aspects were hard and firm in the morning but were softening up by noon.
on a SE aspect at 87000 ft I found 3 different crusts at the top of the snow pack. Top one 3 cm thick then a small 1-2 cm layer of faceted snow then another 3 cm crust. Then 5cm of faceted snow then a 4-5cm crust and then just sugar underneath. When we get more significant snow fall these slopes maybe something to really watch out for on steeper slopes.

SE aspect 8700ft this shows that there is 3 different melt freeze crust. Two of which are stacked nearly on top of each other.