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Observation: Maple Hollow

Observation Date
3/26/2018
Observer Name
Toddeo
Region
Southwest » Pahvant Range » Maple Hollow
Location Name or Route
Pahvants - Maple Hollow
Weather
Sky
Broken
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
A cold morning, my feet were colder than they were the 2 weeks I was in AK this month. Stayed cold thru my exit at noon.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments

HST - 6" both in Fillmore and up high. Some graupel. Some sluffing on slopes approaching 40 degrees, minor but worth noting.

Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
The basal facets are not going anywhere. I backed off a 35 degree north facing slope @8,500' after pole probing (photo below). Theses facets exist to below 7,500 feet but are below a rock solid crust below 8,000' on all aspects. Some isolated wind drifts up to 1' thick and soft slabs about 6-12" thick in places.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments

Mostly on the north 1/4 of the compass above 8,500'. Below that I think the crust is strong enough to support a big load.

Comments

No profile today, on many aspects, each storm has become part of the underlaying crust.

Photos below:

1. Isolated soft cracking with a slight bit of movement, none shooting.

2. The slope I backed off of, 1' of hollow facets at the base of a 48" snow pack.

3. Thin, lumpy (almost like moguls) snow pack @7,500', the crust is making it easy to travel.

4. Terrain and wind affect, the surface was a bit thick in this area (8,400'), looking down from photo 2.

Overall a low danger below 8,000', moderate elsewhere with the exception of considerable on upper elevation north aspects above 8,500'.

Today's Observed Danger Rating
Moderate
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Moderate