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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 22, 2021
Submitted:
January 22, 2021
Observer:
WAC - Victor McNeil
Zone or Region:
Southern Wallowas
Location:
Western Wallowas-Burger Butte

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

Ski toured in the Western Wallowas today around Burger Butte. Dug one pit at 7,900' on a NW aspect. The solstice rain crust (SRC) was down 110 cm or just over 3'. I didn't have any reactivity on the SRC or November Facets. Our group still elected to stay off slopes greater than 32 degrees and avoid trigger points, (rocks, trees). There was about 4" of new snow, which provided some soft turns.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Obscured
Temperature:
-1.5
Wind:
Calm

Overcast and obscured skies today for the most part. A couple breaks in the fog. Winds were calm, temperatures were below freezing. We did not find the 1/12 rain crust above 7,900'.

Snowpack Observations

Dug a pit on 7,900'. Had some sudden planar results in the upper 2' of the snowpack on density changes. The clear cold nights over the past couple days are producing sugar snow (facets) in the upper snowpack.

Terrain Use

Our group stuck to terrain less than 32 degrees, and avoided trigger points (rocks, trees). We avoided convex rolls and stuck to well supported slopes. We used the Status Quo Mindset.

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