April 15
Brighton-Sunset peak-Wolverine-Tuscarora
Elevation, slope angles and aspects
8500-10600', angles over 35°, north, east and west facing aspects.
Snow conditions
16-20"+ settled out storm totals were found. Wind drifts were quite a bit deeper. Ski penetration was only 4-6" with pole and foot penetration 20" or so.
There was a short period of clearing early, with decreased wind followed by snowfall, heavy at times, adding another few inches of lighter density to the total.
Strong wind from the south, created both a density inversion and added to the size of the already large cornices.
Ski cutting was producing sluffing within the upper layering on slopes over 35°. After skiing several runs, an exit down the Dog Lake chute was made.
Several ski cuts produced zero. As the angle increased, a ski cut initiated a surface sluff.
The next one, added to the sluff, then produced a slide.
at the 38° break over. The slide was 60-80' wide, 6-12" deep, running to the flats.
Aspect ene facing. Weak layer was light density sandwiched between higher density snow from the south wind.
Weather
Overcast to obscure skies, snow showers, heavy at times and light wind from the west. Moderate temperatures.
Evaluation
Periods of heavy snowfall combined with strong wind created instabilities within the new snow layering. Those settle, some quicker than others. Ski cuts were working well, but as amounts increase, would expect somewhat less success.
Future instability would be dependent on snowfall amount, wind and daytime heating. Rapid warming could initiate slides to the old snow surface, now buried several feet in drifted areas. Some potential exists for large destructive slides.
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