January 24
Silver-Days
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-10k, angles over 35°, all aspects
Snow conditions
4" or so of dense new snow with an additional several inches falling during the day. Total above the old surface was around a foot. Increased wind produced a distinct inverted density change within new snow, which was reactive to ski cuts and cornice drops.
Resultant slides were up to a foot deep. There was enough entrained snow to bury person in the wrong place. The rain line remained around 8000' with increasing snow density as that elevation was approached on descent. No wet activity was observed.
Weather
Snow, heavy at times throughout the day. Winds were from the west, gusting to over 20mph along the ridges. Moderate temperatures.
Evaluation
Increased instability from wind caused density change. Ski cuts were the tool of choice for management. Instability from yesterday was mostly settled out.
Most avalanches occur during and shortly after storms and I'd expect that to be the case with this ongoing storm. Weather guessers suggest continued snowfall into Monday but, with decreased density. Instability would increase with strong wind or heavy snowfall and should remain within new and recent snow layering.
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