24-25

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

Mar 15 Winds in the Frazier Basin zone were stronger than expected with moderate to strong gusts at the ridge, increasing through the day. We noticed two large windslab pockets that had released since yesterday’s snow. One at the base of Hardscrabble Peak on a N aspect, the other in one of the SE facing gullies that access the Peak 9299/Hollywood Headwall ridge (see photo). 

Today I triggered a D1 dry loose avalanche on a E facing 35 degree slope, 9300 ft on Mt Henderson. The new snow is very low density and is not bonding well to the old interface. I also observed some more dry loose activity/small wind slabs on Sheep Mt, NE facing, 10400 ft.

We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday. It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect.

We also rode to the northwest end of Carrot Basin near the wilderness boundary and dug a pit. Snow depth was 5-6 feet. We found the buried weak layers 3 feet deep. It broke and propagated with many extra hits after an ECTX. 

Snow fell lightly most of the day up high while it was sunny in the parking lot. Wind was light with a few moderate gusts. There was minimal signs of recent wind, but forecast is for wind to increase and there is a lot of light snow to drift into slabs.