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Observation: GE Hill/Skyline Summit

Observation Date
1/9/2017
Observer Name
Darce Trotter / Steve Cote
Region
Skyline » Fairview Canyon » Blind Fork » GE Hill
Location Name or Route
GE Hill
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Mixed Snow-Rain
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Tried to get a look around this AM, rain was occurring over 9000' to start, combined with blowing and drifting snow at the summit of Fairview Canyon. Temps did start dropping as did the rain snow line, and had dropped to 7500' by 10:30 AM
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
10"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

yesterdays snow was capped with a rain crust, 1"-1 1/2" with new graupel falling on top. In the wind, the crust is exposed and crunch, punchy, ie not exactly "stellar" conditions, we limped our way back to truck

Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Red Flags Comments
some natural activity on Wedding Ring Ridge, new wind slab, continued transport of snow up high. Rain crust a new sliding surface that is getting buried
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments

These will be sensitive on rain crust/graupel layer, we also found a clean shear at old snow/new snow interface, no collapsing and no propagation on ECT, likely faceted surface snow from last Friday's arctic temps.

Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #2 Comments

surface hoar layer is now 80 cm deep, non reactive to ECT, but still could pose a bigger problem if activated. with weekend's 1.7" of H2O and continued storm, time will tell

Snow Profile
Aspect
Northeast
Elevation
9,500'
Slope Angle
20°
Comments

see video for snow discussion

Video

could not get any collapsing or propagation, but when pried upon, clear shear at old snow, new snow interface

Video

the only activity we saw, natural new snow wind slab center of Wedding Ring Ridge, hard to see in flat light

rain at lower elevations causes other hazards

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
High
Coordinates