February 1

Willow-West Monitor

Elevation, slope angles and aspects:

7500-10'000', angles over 35°, north and west facing aspects.

Avalanche activity:

One natural, cornice fall triggered, skier's left side West Monitor bowl. The slide was about 50' wide and a foot deep, involving new snow. Surface snow sluffing on slopes over 35°.

Slopes skied:

Will's Hill, Two laps in West Monitor and the hourglass into Willow.

Snow conditions:

8-10" new snow from the latest round. That snow overlies a soft settled base. The pronounced density inversion from the last round has mostly settled. Ski penetration was within the new snow, foot penetration to the waist, sinking through all the layer from the last storm cycle. Cornice lines on east facing aspects

cornice line

have grown quite large, breaking off when overloaded.

Weather:

Overcast to obscure, with light snow showers most of the day. Winds from the west, gusting to around 15 mph. Moderate temperatures.

Evaluation:

Natural activity was limited to a shallow soft slab, cornice fall and surface sluffing. Some potential exists for instability form wind drifting on lee aspects. Most should be shallow but, may step down or be deeper, dependent on settlement of the various density changes within the three foot total of extended stormy period.

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