Observation: Caribou Basin

Recent Avalanches

Poor Snowpack Structure

Early reports from Sunset appear to speak to the potential to trigger P Slab avalanches in Steep/Rocky terrain above 10,000 feet on the polars. Snow pit at 9850', NE, 25 degrees had 28cm of new settled snow, an HS of 78cm, and a 10cm ice block from the rain event. 1mm rounding facets below the rain crust were still exhibiting shears as well as the rounding basal facets. These weak layers are reactive, but only when you Isolate the test blocks from the stout/icy rain event. Observations continue to support the theory that in areas housing the thicker rain crust event the possibility of triggering an avalanche at this point in time is Unlikely. That being said, in upper elevation terrain that has a thin rain crust it is obviously possible to trigger a slide that runs on the basal facet layer.