Recent Avalanches

Cracking

Rapid Warming

Poor Snowpack Structure

Many Hasty Pits confirmed Drew's observation of small rounding facets as the culprit weak layer involved in some of the recent avalanches over the past 24 hours. Of note, there were several other hasty pits that identified a reactive weak layer 7 cm above the m/f crust that has been identified as the active bed surface. In these locations there appeared to be a 7 cm, 1 Finger Plus friable/ambiant m/f layer from that was likely from the beginning snows that fell earlier in the week. These were on very protected Northerly facing slopes with angles greater than 30 degrees. Interestingly, it was easy to produce clean shears on this layer, and there was good bonding to the pre-storm m/f crust layer. Regardless of all of this, the reactivity that was observed on Thursday had settled out significantly in all areas traveled, and it was Stubborn. No cracking was observed on cold snow areas int the morning hours. Yet as the day warmed, it was posslble to see those Red Flags of cracking and avalanching on slopes that were not even getting direct solar. Upon exiting the right shoulder of the Dog Lake Chutes, small slopes with angles greater than 30 degrees were exhibiting cracking; and see Photo 2 of the avalanche that was triggered by riders on the lower hump of the Pioneer Bowl Runout area. Whether the pre-storm m/f crust have facets above them, or just preserved decomposing stellars, this latest round of Widespread Avalanche activity was record setting. What is unusual were the numerous high consequence slopes that were ridden without any issues on Thursday. East Castle was ridden wall to wall, and the Tuscarora Main Chute/Seagull had many tracks that dropped in from the top.