January 22
White Pine
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
7500-10'800', angles over 35°, all aspects but south.
Avalanche activity:
A slide was noticed from the White Pine parking on the lower roll over in Scotties bowl within new snow layering..
A closer view. Possibly sympathetic to a skier?
There was widespread sluffing, especially on the east facing. A larger deeper slide in the background
of lower Boulder Basin. Maybe 100' wide,
at least 2' deep, releasing again on the lower break over.
Beyond the lower meadow sluffing could be found on all aspects. Stress fractures can be seen in the lower left of the photo.
Numerous shallow soft slabs, some partially buried and others plainly visible. Slides were noted in the Birthday chutes and on north facing Lake peak.
Slopes skied:
Lake peak north facing reversing the up track to the road.
Snow conditions:
There was over a foot of new snow found in the parking area. That amount increased to 24"+ in the upper elevation bowls. Wind drifts were waist deep in isolated locations. Drifting on Red Top and the Tri chutes
dictated a change of direction as Red Baldy was also drifted, without visible avalanching.
Snow was light density, with only a slight near surface density increase from the wind.
Weather:
Morning bluebird conditions changed to overcast skies, increasing wind, gusting to around 20 mph from the west-southwest, but swirling and light snowfall all afternoon.
Evaluation:
Widespread natural avalanche activity and a lot of snow resulted in a cautious approach, skiing only slopes already avalanched. No collapsing was felt so would expect settlement to ease the tension, stabilizing instabilities. A continued cautious approach to big open bowls with obvious drifting would be wise.
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