January 24

Alexander Basin

Elevations, slope angles and aspects:

6200-9800', angles over 35°, all aspects but south.

Avalanche activity:

There were several older slides observed including northwest chutes on Wilson and middle bowl in Alexander Basin. All had recent snow covering both crowns and debris piles. Steep slopes, still sensitive to ski cutting, produced sluffing. A new wind crust would also move on ne facing.

Slopes skied:

Middle bowl and main north facing Alexander Basin.

Snow conditions:

Surface hoar was found

near the creek

and on the lower approach trail.

Up higher, continued cool temperatures were recrystalizing the light density. That layer was reactive to ski cuts after covered by the latest round of wind drifting. Those wind drifts were only a coupla inches thick. Out of the wind, a bit of sluffing continues on the steepest slopes.

Snow had settled nicely, with the recent snow totals under a foot.

Weather:

Partly cloudy in the morning. Increasing clouds, winds from the west, gusting to about 20 mph and light snow fall in the afternoon. Moderate temperatures.

Evaluation:

Mostly stable conditions. Future instabilities would be dependent on new snow amounts, wind and bonding of new snow with the variable, near surface faceted in places, old snow surface.

back

© wowasatch.com