The CSI Logan Peak weather station is currently reading south-southwest winds averaging a bit less than 15 mph, but overnight averages were in the 20s and 30s with 40 mph gust earlier this morning. Temperatures dropped significantly, and it's 23 degrees at 9700'. As of 4:00 this morning, there's about an inch of new snow at the 8400' Tony Grove Snotel, with 33 inches of total snow containing 105% of average water for the date. High pressure conditions have taken toll on the snow at upper elevation, weakening the snow on the surface and turning the entire snowpack to sugary non-cohesive facets in shallow areas. We're still finding good coverage at upper elevations, but the snow is less supportable around rocks and caution is certainly required, given the shallow early season conditions........
The Tony Grove and Franklin Basin Roads are not maintained for wheeled travel in the winter!
In sheltered shady terrain we found some well developed and intact feathery surface hoar or frost crystals on the snow surface. (12-12-2014)
Go to our Video Observation from Upper Bullen Basin on 12-10-2014..........HERE
Everyone needs to carry a shovel, probe, and transceiver. Be sure your rescue gear is functioning by practicing with it, and when polite invitations don't work, force your partners to join in the fun. You can bury your pack with your transceiver in it and have your partner find, probe, and excavate it. Then get them to do the same for you. Training your team is critical in this game.
Our own new, Quick and Easy Avalanche Rescue Practice Video............... ***HERE
My partner triggered a small wind slab avalanche yesterday up in Steep Hollow at around 9500' on a drifted northeast facing slope. It was an Intentional trigger, but surprised us a bit anyway. Pretty sensitive hard thin wind slab, failed with a light stomp near ridge-top. The recently formed wind slab failed on sugary near surface facets. Report is.......... HERE
Visit our Backcountry Observations Page for more information.....
