Recent Avalanches

Heavy Snowfall

Wind Loading

Cracking

All the light snow we had yesterday was no where to be found. Between the warm rain crust and the strong west winds the new light snow of yesterday was not so light anymore. Wind loading was wide spread. When looking from the top of the Loft on Square Top where yesterday’s slide was triggered I was able to slide out the new wind loaded snow at the top. It was running on top the rain crust. Something to note about the Loft slide, the debris ran through the trees that stick out beyond the trim line. I dug a pit in Desolation Lake just skinners right of the typical skin track. Snow depth was 110 cm and failing ECT 11 consistently on the rain crust about a foot below the surface. Although the layer was failing the snow did not slide off the column...so failure, propagating, but not running. The only other layer to fail was at the ground and required a shovel sheer. The base was damp.