March 4
Bowman trail, Pole canyon, Alexander Basin, Gobblers Knob
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10400', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
8-16" storm total.
Right side up,mostly bonded.
Observed avalanches detailed below.
March 5
Bowman trail, Cabin run, Gobblers Knob
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10400', angles over 35°, north and west facing aspects.
Snow conditions
Good overnight settlement, off aspects heated from strong sun and warming.
Crusted with shade and cooling.
Weather
Clear skies, cool temperatures till afternoon, winds were light from the west.
Avalanche activity
Silver Bell
Extensive sluffing, mid slope crowns at the old-new interface.
West Porter had less sluffing, avalanche into lower angled from near the ridge.
Interesting shallow crown on Raymond slab.
Room of Doom
Bonkers
Crown is near the ridge, northeast facing. I suspect wind loading during the storm.
Back bowls had extensive activity which didn't run as far on both northeast and west facing.
Most interesting was Davis Gulch named after a friend who died in a slide there.
Looking at the main crown.
The slide ran into the gully, pulling snow from the sides, entraining more snow with descent.
According to my fancy watch, the slide descended about 2000' vertical.
Looking back, a few shallow sidewall crowns are visible along with another shallow crown on the headwall + surface sluffing.
Evaluation
Extensive avalanche activity during the first actual storm in over a month.
Most avalanching occurred during the storm leaving scattered lingering instability.
Snowpack in the area remains shallow with weak structure.
Needs a load, not currently suggested by weather guessers so...
Future stability is dependent on any wind effect and daytime heating.
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