Public Observation

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

We spent a few days in Aneroid basin Jan 28-31. We had 18-24" of fresh low density snow just prior to our arrival. Upon getting up to treeline and into the alpine we saw multiple natural slides. Isolated soft slabs with the new storm snow at treeline, multiple windslabs above treeline on Pete's and Dollar. All were N/NW aspects. We dug at an elevation of around 8300' and found multiple weak layers in the snowpack. There was a surface hoar layer buried under the new storm snow that was still not bonding well. This layer broke on a CT5 with a shear quality of Q2. While the layer broke easily we did not get any propagation in our ECT test on that layer. Further down in the snowpack the Solstice Rain Crust had turned to a very poorly bonded layer of facets, roughly 3' from the surface. During our ECT this layer propagated halfway across the column with moderate pressure. Watch the thin spots for these two layers until they bond better within the snowpack. The potential of triggering either is a real potential and has the possibility of stepping down and going big. With caution, we had fantastic lower angle pow skiing all weekend.