January 22
There seems to be some confusion about naming so...
I labeled common areas.
Spruces-Little Water Peak-Spruces
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-9400', angles over 35°, all aspects
Snow conditions
2" new snow over the settled recent snow. Totals around a foot.
New snow was of the blower, light density variety, capped with a few hoars.
Day time heating thickened exposed aspects but, crusting doubtful.
Avalanche activity
New snow slides were observed in Butler Basin, ene, se, and south facing Gobblers
All were less than a foot deep. Timing unknown but, February 21-22 is likely.
Sluffs and wind drifting.
Sluffing was also observed in the ne facing Wilson chutes.
Skier triggered slab from Sunday.
Lower middle of the photo.
Weather
Partly cloudy skies in the am. Instability showers and pesky mid elevation clouds in the pm. Cool temperatures.
Winds were from the wnw, gusting around 15 mph along the ridges.
Evaluation
Looked at three slides, north facing Little Water peak.
No crowns were investigated because all were the result of drifting. Surface hoar?
Instabilities would be the localized hidden hoar frost layers, sluffing within new snow and wet activity from forecast warming.
Increased wind would bump up the above.
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