Detailed Observation

Date2021-09-19
LocationHaines
ObserverJeff Moskowitz
AvalancheN

General Observations

Transitional Zone: Winter is not far off with current snow levels above 4,000′ – it is time to put on your avalanche eye balls and look critically at terrain in your favorite zones.

-Where are early season slabs most likely to form in the terrain (wind loading and cross loading)?
-What type of anchoring exists on a slope, are these also trigger point, or a smooth bed surface?
-What are consequences if a slope does slide, such as terrain traps: rocks, trees, cliffs, crevasse?
-Where in glacial terrain are major crevasses located and likely to form shallow snow bridges?

There are a lot of clues out there in the mountains early season, to help inform how the three dimensional seasonal snowpack builds. Remember enough snow to ride, is enough snow to slide. The glaciers look like they held on to some of last season’s snowpack. Noted a fairly significant rock fall around 5,000′ on a north aspect circled in red on the last photo. Be safe out there early season – we have a long winter ahead.

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Weather Observations

Observed Avalanche Activity