Walked up Willow to West Monitor today to have a look at what the new snow was doing. 12 to 18 inches of new snow elevation dependent right side up, medium density. Periods of heavy precipitation consisting of graupel and plain old snow, medium to strong winds on the high ridge line transporting large amounts of snow into the main bowl of West Monitor. Noted evidence of new slides that had happened before we had arrived debris was already partially blown in, seemed to be triggered by natural cornice drops. Went over to skiers left were the cornices were smaller and a good spot to get a look at the slope one stomp on the ridge by my partner Scott Bittle cracked out a soft slab 150 ft wide, 15 inches deep at the deepest part of the crown, averaging about 10 to 12 inches deep running full track to the flat at the bottom. slide ran on a density inversion on the new snow a few inches above the old melt freeze crust. Wind loading was the main culprit.
A little action photo cracking out some of the hang fire
