Avalanche: GE Hill/Skyline Summit 1/23/2012

Observer Name: 
Matt Selman, Sean Busby
Observation Date: 
01/23/2012
Occurrence Date: 
01/23/2012
Occurrence Time: 
Unknown
Region: 
Skyline
GE Hill/Skyline Summit
Location Name: 
Ridge above Huntington Reservoir
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Location

39° 35' 21.5808" N, 111° 16' 48.2808" W
Avalanche Characteristics
Elevation: 
9700'
Aspect: 
East
Slope Angle: 
Unknown
Trigger: 
Unknown
Avalanche Type: 
Hard Slab
Weak Layer: 
Facets
Depth (avg): 
unknown
Width: 
200'
Vertical: 
100'
Snow Profile
Snow Profile Comments: 

We selected a safe representative slope to perform a Rutschblock test. The test slope was 35 degrees, east facing, and actively wind loading with glide cracks present. The tester (wearing skis) walked onto the isolated block and it failed almost immediately on facets near the ground (Fredston and Fesler would call this "extremely unstable").

snowProfile1-23-2012lineerRidge.001.jpg
General Comments

I observed several natural avalanches today on the Skyline. Deteriorating conditions prevented me from taking clear photos as visibility dropped, and I'm sure there were many more slides to be seen had the cloud cover been lifted. The entire north face of Lineer Ridge/GE Hill appeared to have slid sometime during the cycle. Small sluffs and mini avalanches were observed on steep, convex surfaces, and in areas where snow stability is rarely a question. Signs of instability were conspicuously present as low as 7,800 feet. Loud, distinct "whoomping" noises were heard as we traveled across short, steep test slopes. Deep glide cracks were observed on several slopes; the one we investigated was as deep as the faceted layer on the ground. The photo below shows a ski pole inserted into a glide crack to a depth of over 130 cm (i.e. the total depth of the snowpack). A spooky day on the Skyline. It was again snowing and 2-3 new inches had accumulated by 5:30 PM, with the storm steadily intensifying.

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