January 17

Spruces-Wilson Fork-Alexander Basin-Millcreek

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

6400-10000', angles over 35°, all aspects.

Snow conditions

Snow on the south received enough sun to soften during the day and crust with cooling.

North facing in the area has seen significant weakening since the last visit. Several inches of recrystalized rest on a slightly denser layer over weak faceted snow.

Total snow cover in the area, outside of wind, avalanche and sun affected is 2-3 feet.

Avalanche activity

Limited to a depth hoar sluff initiated with a ski cut, mid slope skier's right, Wilson chute, north east facing..

Sluff was 6-8" deep, 10 feet wide, running 40 or so vertical feet, on the ground.

Weather

Clear to partly cloudy skies, mild temperatures. Light westerly wind.

Evaluation

Mostly stable snow in the area.

Instability would be from recent wind drifting.

In addition, weather guessers have a storm...uh...storms on the way, with another round of increasing wind and snow.

Very weak surface snow may not allow good bonding of new snow to old surface so an increase in new snow instability is likely.

Weak underlying structure could easily result in step down slides into older layering.

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January 17 journal

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