Observation Date
1/28/2024
Observer Name
Trenbeath
Region
Abajos » North Creek - Abajo Mtns.
Location Name or Route
North Creek - Robertson Pasture
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Northwest
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Unseasonably warm and calm day in the mountains with high temps near 40F at 10,000'.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Dense Loose
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Still some soft powder with very little wind effect. Sunny aspects became damp. Coverage on south facing slopes is still very thin ranging from grass sticking out to near bare ground. Shady slopes range in depth from around 2' at 9000' to 3.5' or 110 cms above 10,000'.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The bottom 50 cms of the snowpack are weak and faceted. At lower elevations this is most of the snowpack. At higher elevations a 1 finger slab has developed over top of the faceted snow. There are three distinct but contiguous layers of faceted snow at the base, and a buried near surface faceted layer at about 80 cms. Stability tests produced results in the mid 20's, failing on the deepest faceted layer. This suggests that any avalanches triggered will be full depth. Triggering an avalanche at this time is possible but not likely. Significant future snowloads will likely activate this weak layer.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
See red flag comments above and pit profile below.
Pit wall with hand hardness test.
Extended column test results ECTP 25. Failure on the basal facets at 29 cm.
Snow Profile
Aspect
East
Elevation
10,300'
Slope Angle
22°
Comments
A slightly below average season is shaping up in the Abajo Mountains. Overall snow depths on shady slopes are not that far behind normal. Thin snow cover on south aspects can be attributed to a dry December, as can the faceted base layers. A significant load has not yet been applied to this weak foundation though human triggered avalanches remain possible on steep, northerly aspects. Any significant snow load will create dangerous conditions with full depth avalanches likely.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate
Coordinates
