November 18
Location:
Gobblers-Alexander
Bowman trail to Pole Canyon to the summit of Gobblers(Cabin Run). Followed the ridge and descended Alexander Basin taking the cut off trail back around to Bowman.
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6000'-10'200', angles over 35°, north east and west aspects.
Avalanche activity observed:
Some rollers a point releasing around terrain features like rocks nd trees from the mild temperatures. Could see similar activity in Broads Fork with a zoom lens.
Slopes skied:
Verted the cabin run and main upper Alexander basin.
Weather:
Mild temperatures, with a west wind, gusting to around 20mph in more exposed areas.
Snow pit:
Evaluation:
Weakest snow remains near the surface. Sun exposed aspects have a supportable to marginally supportable crust. Most north facing is capped by a wind crust, occasionally supportable. Future instabilities will be dependent on load and will probably initiate in near surface weaknesses. Since the snow continues it's weakening progression., deeper releases into older layering becomes more likely.
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