January 27
They were on closeout
because of the package design...doping?
Bowman trail to the Cabin run,
out Pole canyon.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10k, angles over 35°, north facing aspects.
Snow conditions
There was less than an inch of new snow at the trailhead, resting on a refreezing wet base, capped by a supportable crust.
New snow amounts increased with elevation gain with the soggy old snow changing to dense and creamy above about 8k.
Upper elevations were heavily wind affected, scoured on the west facing.
Out of the wind, 8-12" of dense snow over a crust-facet lower snow pack.
By afternoon, lower elevations had 1-3"" new snow, bonding poorly to the old surface.
Weather
Overcast to obscure skies, moderate temperatures, wind from the wsw gusting to about 50 mph at upper elevations above 9k.
Evaluation
Instability was from wind drifting. New snow was sluffing easily at lower elevations in the gully.
Future instability would be dependent on snow amounts.
Potential exists for release into old layering with a significant load.
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