Smiley Creek BC Skiing - 2/25-26/2012

Abe's Chair - Smiley Creek Lodge, Sawtooth Mountains - Idaho

The Sawtooths are an amazing range. We are so lucky to have such a playground. This past weekend  the 705 BSP Avalanche Instructors were scheduled to teach an Avalanche L2 in Lake Tahoe, but the course was cancelled due to the poor snow conditions. Thus we had a unique opportunity to relax, and ski together in the Sawtooth's.

The popular Smiley Creek Lodge became our home for the weekend.

Smiley Creek Lodge Website

Friday and Saturday night we shared beers and stories with two snowmobile riders from Boise and another from Missoula. They provided great feedback about the avalanche terrain travel skills needs, and appropriate educational approach to the snowmobile community.

Smiley Creek Lodge Room

It snowed during Friday evening and through Saturday. After getting directions from Tom, the owner of Smiley Creek Lodge, we headed over to the moraines at the base of Abe's chair in snowmobiles from RedLine Recreational Toys. They are great guys and they make dealing with snowmobiles for Backcountry Skiing access pretty easy and affordable.

Redline Recreational Toys Website

Visibility was poor Saturday, so we took refuge in the deep trees and skied the trees were the wind did not affected the snow quality. The next video summarizes well the two fabulous days we had this past weekend:

Both days we limited the slopes to 32 degrees of steepness or less. The combination of surface hoar, surface faceting, rain crusts, and deep instabilities have resulted in a complex and highly variable kaleidoscope of snowpack structures. It did not help the combination of strong winds accompanied by new snow. Friday evening the Sawtooth valley experienced strong SE/S winds, that shifted to strong NW winds by Saturday. With snow available for transport, the wind produced dangerous and unpredictable loading patterns.

Saturday, stability testing at the E, N, and W slopes between 7200-8200 feet suggested a high likelihood of avalanche triggering (CTE), and a high likelihood of an avalanche sliding (Q1 with sudden collapse or SC) after a fracture nucleation (triggering) and propagation at the new snow interface of 35-40 cm deep. While ski touring during the day, fractures were present where the snow was impacted by wind.

Brad and Brian - doing snowpit work

The wind died down Sunday and the skies cleared Sunday. We tried hard to identify avalanches from Saturdays storm to no avail, but very likely the evidence was covered by new and wind transported snow.

Sunday, we accessed Alturas Lake from Smiley Creek by snowmobile, and parked the snow machines near some cabins. From there we skinned up to the Western ridge.

Near Cabins at Alturas Lake, getting ready to skin up.

Stability at the ridge west of Alturas lake (Cabin Creek area) provided evidence for easy triggering (CTE), high likelihood of slab sliding (Q1-SC), and propagation potential. During the day slopes with SE and E aspects below 7800 feet produced significant "whumpfs". This is clear evidence of propagation potential.

Mountains south of Alturas Lake - Sawtooth Valley

Snowpits at 8400 feet resulted in ECTN at the new snow interface (35-40 cm), or low potential of fracture propagation. During a "Propagation Saw Test" the fracture propagation was suppressed by the "beam failure" of the slab. In other words, the soft slab conditions resulted in ECTN and PST false stables. False stables are possible for ECT and PST tests during soft slab conditions.

An example of a PST test with propagation can be found in the following link:

PST during 2009 NSP AVI course

It is important for practitioners to carefully observe where the fracture stops during ECTN and/or PST stability testing. If propagation stops where the slab fractures vertically, prudence should prevail, and particularly when fracturing and/or whumpfing is present, as it was this weekend.

Furthermore, changes in elevation and wind impact patterns in a slope might provide a stiffer slab that will exacerbate the snowpack propensity to propagate a fracture failure. Be very careful when discounting propagation potential during soft slab conditions, or when some localized area of the slope has stiffer slap capable not only of easily nucleating a fracture, but of propagating it as well.

In addition to the concern at the 35-40 cm interface, another weak layer was identified at NE aspects buried 60 cm from the surface that produced moderate test results (CTM) with a Q1 fracture character (high slip likelihood).

Based on the previous data, and cognizant about the complex and variable snowpack, we only skied slopes shallower than 32 degrees. But the HIGH quality of the experience was not tainted by skiing shallower lines ... we had great turns in the soft snow, enjoyed each other company, and had a grand time relaxing after a busy winter.

Snowmobile transport between Alturas Lake and Smiley Creek Lodge

It is understandable that for some of my ski touring peers it is challenging to come to terms with the use of snowmobiles to access the backcountry. But it is important that we recognize and welcome this emerging and growing segment of the backcountry community. This blog welcome all of winter recreationists, and in that spirit we seek to build linkages between BC skiers and snowmobile users.

For those that would like to gauge the possibilities of skiing terrain accessed via snowmobile, another video is shared on this posting. The video was captured during an stay at Cornucopia lodge, Halfway, Eastern Oregon this past January 2012.

The next link provides information for folks interested in staying at Cornucopia Lodge:

C

Cornucopia Lodge Website

Pilot & Freeman Peaks AVI Conditions 2.22 thru 2.24

Prior to this week's precipitation event various weather events resulted in a variable mix of rain crusts, facets, surface hoar, and wind crusts. The new snow,  depending on elevation and aspect will be sitting in top of a different surface (or weak layer) even in our general area.

This complex and variable layers will require of us to be prudent and keep angles below 35 or exercise "due-diligence" with stability tests as we are moving and skiing around. In other words, the variability the snowpack structure is "high" and skiing steeper lines will require "lots" of stability assessment.

Below some recent accounts from friends:

February 22
I went out and toured at Pilots today.  The snow pack was quite scary.  There is 10cm of consolidated gropple and warm snow on top of 30 cm of very light, fist snow, ie the recent storm is upside down.  This is all sitting on the old snow base.  The stability testing showed a compression test that failed at 2 with Q3 at the gropple soft snow interface.  The ECT was failed at 7 at 40cm( the new snow old snow interface) and propagate across the entire column with a Q3 shear.  There was a lot of whumping.  It was also snowing at over 2cm an hour  with ridge top winds out of the W/SW at 30-40mph when I left.  Yet another red flag.  If you head out be careful.
It was a beautiful day for a tour up a low angle ridge.

Notice that the testing revealed evidence of easy triggering (CTE) and propagation potential ( ECTP). Whumping, "upside-down" snow,  and strong winds are "red" flags. Q3 results (Low likelihood of slip potential) can easily change with slope angle, and character of the fracture plane. As commented earlier we have a variable layer of wond and rain crusts that could easily change Q scores as aspect and elevation changes.

February 23 @ Pilot
Gary and I had surprisingly good skiing at Pilot today. We got there expecting the hazard to be too high to do anything but tour up and back down the ridge. Ski pole probes into the snow showed it's really upside-down. But we dug a pit at the top of Knob Ridge, around 7100, and did two CTs that produced the same result, CT27 Q2, and the ECT didn't propagate at all. Gary had summit fever, so we skied to the top of Pilot, still skeptical about conditions. But given the low angle of Knob Ridge, we decided it would be safe. After the first run, Gary said, correctly, "that's what backcountry skiing is all about." Shallow but creamy new powder atop a crust that actually held us up. We had to ski a second lap before coming down.

There is skiing to be done, and these friends carefully evaluated the slope to be skied. They did not find evidence of stability at the selected slope, and had GREAT skiing.

However, aspect, angles, and elevations can change the nature of the snowpack. Check the next update from Freeman for the SAME day!

February 23 @ Freeman
Today Tom and I made a trip up to Freeman Peak.  We wanted to report on conditions as we found some snowpack stability issues that are worth reporting.  We dug a pit near the lower ridge saddle and were surprised to obtain two CTE (CT4 then a CT10) compression tests at 40 cm.

We found burried facets at the interface between the old snow from a month ago and the new 40 cm of snow from this last round of storms.

  Sheer quality was Q2.  A propagation test produced an ECTPV -11.  It seems that the facets from the long stretch of warm days and cold clear nights were burdend by the recent heavy and wet snow accompanied by a few rain events.

We detected other ice layers (15 cm) above the failure layer at 40 cm.

We opted to ski a 24 degree slope and observed no additional signs of instability on the lower slopes.

We later skinned up to the upper snow slopes beyond the upper ridge saddle.  On our ascent, we observed a recent avalanche across the SE drainage of Freeman on a SE aspect of Freeman.  We skied the skiers right of the upper snow field and again controlled our angles and skied slopes nearing 25 degrees.  On this run, we observed several recent avalanches on the N, NE and NW aspects on either side of our moderate angle.

 These slides occurred on slopes <35 degrees and failed at that 40 cm weak interface.  We exited to the drainage on a steep ridge and observed another recent slide there.   While skinning up to the ridge at the start of our outing, neither of us felt that snow conditions were as unstable as they proved to be. Tom and I were both very glad that we had the presence to follow the guidance that I received from your class and ski lower angled slopes. We just wanted to report what we found so others might be aware that instabilities exist.

Last Sunday, during an AVI L1 class we were surprised about the sensitivity of top 25 cm of snow at places were it had densified (formed slab). The conditions were predominantly "dust on crust". But at selected test areas we had test with CTEQ1-SC (sudden collapse) results. Also, ski cutting at a steep roll-over produced fracture propagation and dislocation of a small slab. The new low density snow received last weekend was deposited in top of facets resting above of a rain crust. Depending on elevation the rain crust was decomposing into facets. The recent snow is making this weak layer interface now buried 40 cm our biggest concern for this weekend.

Thanks to Chip, Mike and Dusty for sharing your observations!

Additional snow is expected for this weekend, and the skiing promises to be terrific. This is a great time to seek that friend that completed an AVI course to have him mentor you on stability assessment. Or perhaps, for those that are eager to practice their skills in terrain management, take out your inclinometers and carefully manage slope angles. Keep in mind that conditions are highly variable with respect to snow stability, but Mores Creek Summit has many, many, many areas where it is possible to have a great skiing and never be exposed to steep terrain or avalanche terrain with terrain traps.

Finally, a link is included below for a for presentation prepared by Jeff Anderson for a National Ski Patrol Avalanche Instructor Conference held in McCall last fall. Jeff is a Hydrologist for NRCS (The SNOTEL guys), an avid BC skier, a contributor to the Mores Creek blog, Guest instructor for National Ski Patrol Avalanche programs, and a friend. He prepared this fabulous material about how to better use the snotel.

What Backcountry Users should know about SNOTEL

This link will be added to the blog links.

Soldier Mountain Backcountry - February 5 2012

Sunday February 5th was another perfect day; fine pow, best friends, and tranquil weather. Early in the morning I left Boise with John T (NSP Avalanche Advisor for the Region) and Mark (a recent AVI L1 graduate) to backcountry ski in the surrounding area of Soldier Mountain Ski resort.

Soldier Mountain Ski Resort Website

We meet with two ski patrollers from Soldier Mountain, Dale and Nate. Dale completed last year his AVI L2 with the 705 BSP, and this year became an alumni of the National Avalanche School (Phases 1 and 2). Nate completed his AVI L1 certification this year. John and I have been taking time to hang around with the NEW NSP avalanche educators from the region, and this was Dale's time to takes us to his neighborhood, review avi and ski tour concepts, and converse about how to mentor and teach avalanche concepts to winter recreationists.

"Big Smiles" Ron

Claire, Patrol Director and Avalanche expert.

New Toboggan - Patrollers love new toys. Top of Soldier MOuntain Ski resort.

After spending some time visiting with my ski patrol friends (Claire, Ron, and others), we headed over to the backcountry above Soldier Mountain Ski resort.

Soldier Peak #1 (center) with Peak #2 (background)

Soldier Peak #2 center-right.

Soldier Peak #2 center left.

The mountains views were outstanding. The Pioneers dominated the views to the NE.

Smokies Mountains in the foreground.

In the background, Black Face is Devil Bedstead (Extreme left), Goat Peak (twin peaks), Duncan Ridge, Hyndman, Cobbs & Old Hyndman.

We very lucky to ski the best snow in the range. The snow below 7000 feet was affected by the recent winds. But surprisingly the snow between 7000 and 8500 feet was skiing superbly.

Last slope we skied Feb 5, 2012 @ Soldier BC

Stability Assessment of an East Aspect slope with 26 degrees in steepness, and above 8000 feet provided evidence of high likelihood of triggering an avalanche (CTE), with moderate likelihood for "Slip" likelihood (Q2), and no evidence of propagation propensity (ECTN). The layer of concern was 30 cm deep. A second snowpit later in the day in a similar slope with Eastern aspect showed low likelihood for fracture propagation, initiation, and slip likelihood. We did not skied slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

There was another layer of concern buried 50 cm under the snow surface, but it was not reactive to stability tests.

As we skied back into the resort via Soldier Creek drainage, many slopes with N, NE, and E at elevations and below 7500 feet were topped by a significant layer of surface Hoar (SH). This layer will have to be tracked.

Surface Hoar with crystals larger than 2 mm 

Surface hoar layer in excess of 2 cm in thickness.

Enjoy the movie for last Sunday skiing:

We closed the day by having beers, watch football, and having some of the BEST food at Fairfield's Soldier Creek Brewery Company.

Mark and John T.

Pilot Peak - 2.4.2012

What an spectacular day we had at Pilot Peak!

The Glades (left) and Knob Ridge (right) - Pilot Peak Ridge

It was a sunny bluebird day, with comfortable temperatures few degrees below 0 Deg-C, very light to calm wind, and with some diligence fun snow could be found at N and NE aspects.

The company was exceptional, I had the chance to introduce a family friend to Mores Creek Summit. Zack was fortunate to have a clear day on his first visit, and tour the Lamar and Pilot Peak ridges. He was able to soak in the 360 degree views of magical central Idaho. I identified for him Copper Mountain-Banner Summit, The Sawtooths, The Smokies, The KING of the Boise Mountain Steel Mountain, Smokey Dome - Soldier Mountains, and the Trinities.

Zack - Lamar Ridge

Later in the day we were joined by Ted (2012 705 BSP-AVI L1 student graduate). In our last run we ran into other friends at the Knob Ridge. What a fun day! By the way, Tom found a pair of red poles left at the exit switchback between Morres Creek Summit and Winter Corner. I have them with me, and I will be happy to return them to its owner - just leave a comment, we will not publish your contact information.

The skiing off Lamar ridge was fun, and was not impacted by the winds that ravaged Pilot Peak ridge above 7500 feet. We completed 3 runs at Lamar drainage before heading over to Top Of The World to ski fun snow on its NE glades. The snow was slightly affected by this week winds as we wrap near the bottom of the run to a more Eastern aspect.

Top Of the World - NE Aspect

Our last run - The Glades west of the Knob ridge skied very well. My recommendation is that folks skiing this Sunday should work hard in getting to rarely skied and more treed North and NE aspects at Pilot Peak. Most recognizable runs have been skied, but not-so-popular pow stashes hidden between the favorite runs are there for the takers. South aspects, and Exposed East aspects slopes have become "instruktional" due wind and melt/sun crusts.

After getting back to the trailhead, we noticed that Winter Corner was thoroughly skied. The folks skiing there must have really enjoy themselves. There were many good looking tracks! And there was plenty conservation and track spooning.

We did not find evidence of evidence of instability in our snowpit at 7600 feet and NE aspect. There was an easily identifiable layer of graupel buried 40 cm down, but it was not reactive at all. However, as we toured, we scoped fresh debris from a natural avalanche. The debris and crown were not covered by Wednesday precipitation. We did not visited this avi location. We suspect that it might have been a wind loaded related event, but that is just an educated guess. Keep an eye for this isolated pockets.

Avalanche crowns at Lamar Ridge

Enjoy the tranquil weather, and get out. It is too nice to stay indoors!

Pilot Peak January 23 2012

The skiing at Pilot Peak last Sunday and Monday was described as exceptional by Jim and Erin (Blog contributors). Well, it was no different Tuesday January 23rd. The cold temps and clear nights have kept the surface snow in primo conditions! The New Pow depth was 35 cm.

Below a video of the skiing at Top of The World and Almost Top of the World. Keep an eye for avalanches track at the sides of the ski runs.

The day started as a blue bird day, no wind, cold, ... just perfect. The next two pictures correspond to very first meadow encountered when skinning up from the first pull-out after Mores Creek Summit snowmobile parking area. Notice the outline of the slab (partially covered by new snow) that avalanched last Saturday (Jan 21st).

The slope angle for this slope measured 31 degrees! A picture looking down, above the fracture line is shown below.

This last avalanche cycle affected many slopes where  I would have either expected avalanches to occur higher in the slope, or slopes with 30-34 degrees to be anchored by the heavy brush of Mores Creek Area. Predictably, slopes steeper than 35 degrees avalanched, but MANY slopes in the 30-33 degree range also slided, and crown fractures were sometime found midslope, just as the slope from the pictures above.

The most impressive slide was at Top of The World (or Round the World). This avalanche ran 1300 feet in vertical. In fact the debris field filled and covered all of the gullies at the very bottom of this run and stopped below the elevation at the bottom of "Almost Top of The World" ski run.

I skied to the bottom of the avalanche debris field in complete disbelief ... it ran beyond the alpha angle of 18 degrees, and the extent and size of the debris toe has completely filled the complex gullies. There were trees and brush that were uprooted and have make this ski run longer!

I am going to be conservative and classify this avi as a D3.5R5 - but if you stand at the bottom of the debris field it was obvios that a rail car would have been destroyed (D4). But D4 are NOT suppose to happen at Mores Creek Summit! This most be a 1:20 year event. This winter is my 20 year skiing this area, and I have never seen anything like this at Mores Creek Summit.

100 feet above the toe of the avalanche debris, looking up to Top of the World" 

1/3 of the way up, looking down into the avalanche path, this one of the gullies that channeled most of the avalanched snow.

2/3 of the way up, looking down into the avalanche path

View of the full track down slope from the crown.

We skied two runs at both flanks of the Top of the World Avalanche. The starting zone average angle was 31 degrees, with a steep sections measuring 33 degrees. There is a steeper line with a rollover at 34 degrees above the fracture crown that was not pulled by the avalanche. I typically do my snowpit above this rollover, and was surprised that this avalanche broke lower in the slope than I expected.

South East Flank of the Avalanche.

North East Flank of the avalanche.

Crown of the Avalanche

Full view of the Avi from mid track

Side view of crown

Crown wall made smaller by new 35 cm of snow. Mark standing inside the avi.

There many other significant avalanches from Saturday cycle at the Knob, Almost Top the World (4 avalanches in that area alone), The Lower glades (2 avis), and the eastern flank from the baldy spot we descend to ski the Knob Ridge. This last avalanche was D2.5-3! Just CRAZY!

The new snow at Sunny aspects (NEE, E, SE, ...) had a delicate layer of surface hoar (SH). Please keep an eye on it in case is not destroyed by the new snow predicted by Wednesday. Although, as we skied out yesterday, there was a deposition of 1-2 cm of new snow that most likely already covered this delicate layer of SH. Furthermore, below the snow surface, there is a low density (very skiable) layer of Near Surface Facets called Diurnal recrystallized snow formed by the relatively mild days and cold nights.

I would not trust the avalanche paths once they get a new slab formed. The bed surface was a pencil hard and capped by a slippery and delicate layer of facets.

Thus, for the next storm cycle it is important to track the SH and NSF at the aspects that get some sun. The deep north should be approached with deep suspicion due to the deep instability (buried depth hoar - DH).

Also - and hate to do this - keep an eye on the rain crust layer buried 35 cm down. Between 7000-8000 feet, this layer has formed a well develop layer of large facets. This layer is easy to detect. Testing of it produced CTMQ3 results. A temperature gradient it is still present, thus it might go from a Q3 to Q2. Performing a loaded column test (simulates a storm by loading column with a block of snow) did not changed compression test (CT) test results. Extended Column test did not showed propagation propensity for this layer either.

Report for Pilot - Jan 22, 2012

Excellent report from a Jim, a long time BC skier:

During our tour today we saw many class 2 and 3 avalanches that occurred prior to Saturday afternoon. Crowns were 3-5 feet deep and bed surface was the late December rain crust. Most slope angles were 35-38 degrees, but one was 31 degrees. Many of the avalanches occurred in the same place where the late December avalanche cycle scoured to the ground, but some occurred where it did not.

This avalanche cycle is thought to be unprecedented in the opinion of our touring party who has skied extensively around Mores Creek Summit for up to 15 years.

Class 3 on mid- to upper-30 degree SE aspect in Round the World Bowl:

Class 2 on 31 degree E aspect:

We stayed on slopes below 30 degrees and found excellent conditions with supportable snow covered by 6 inches of fluff.

Trail-breaking was easy and skiing was fast. Below ~6800 feet a rain crust was present below the fluff.

We were shocked to see a skin track and ski tracks on the Freeman "Exit Chutes". We questioned that decision-making given (1) numerous class 2 to 2.5 avalanches on similar slopes located a few hundred meters N of the tracks, (2) High avalanche danger posted for ranges surrounding the Boise Mtns. and (3) the plethora of low-angle slope options in the Mores Creek Summit area.

Chago comment:


Yesterday (Saturday 1/21) I was quite surprised at the sensitivity of the snowpack. Agree that this level avalanche instability is unprecedented for Mores Creek Summit. I hope you do not mind posting your comments, since they will contribute to create awareness.

In addition, a week ago I was surprised at the sensitivity of the snowpack at Banner Summit/Copper, and that was prior to the BIG snow event. I am spending next weekend at Norway-Halfway-Oregon, and it is very likely that I will have to tip-toe around the big stuff over there.

Readers of the this blog, please take a look at this avalanche accident report:

Avalanche Fatality - 2012/01/18 - Colorado - Burnt Mountain Near Snowmass Village

The avalanche that claimed a life on this accident was very small, and typical to the terrain that can be found at Mores Creek Summit:

The avalanche was 14 feet wide, ran 30 vertical feet, and was 2 feet deep at the crown. Please carefully evaluate any slope you are about to ski, and have the presence of mind to anticipate consequences, particularly during this period of deep instability.

Another blog reader posted the following comment I think it is important to integrate into Sunday's report:

I skied Pilots on Sunday as well. Saw a large slide over on Freeman on a NW slope. The north bowl of Pilots had slid as well, with a 4-5ft deep crown-line and looked to be wider than a football field's length. However, heard no whumpfing while skinning up the ridge to Pilot's. We opted to ski low-angle (<28 degrees) south-facing aspects, and had a fun ski day! 

We also observed several snowmobilers out and about - some were high-marking up on Freeman's on slopes with similar aspects to the slope we'd seen a slide on. EVERYONE should be careful in the backcountry right now, snowmobilers and skiers alike!

That said, low-angle, south-facing slopes are skiing very well right now with an awesome layer of new snow!
-Erin L.

Mores Creek Summit - Jan 21 2012

Today I drove to Mores Creek Summit to assess the impact of the significant precipitation event, as well as making turns in a set of new skis that have been patiently waiting for the right conditions.

My new POW tool!

As we all know the precipitation that commenced Wednesday and winded down today brought the snow levels to average conditions:

The Snotel at Mores Creek Summit reported a whopping 75 inches, an increase in excess of 48 inches (4 feet!). It was no surprise that some pull-outs were not plowed (such as Winter's Corner), and that the parking area at the Summit was limited in parking space. With very few options available I decided to make few laps at Freeman. There was another party at Freeman that selected to put an uphill trail on the main ridge. I still was not sure there was not going to be combat with the brush approaching from the ridge, and opted to built a second uphill track close to a run some call "Elevator" (ski line dropping to the switchback). As expected, trail breaking required more work due to the unconsolidated nature of the new snow.

No whumpfing, cracking, or other sign of instability were present during the climb and approach via a NE subtle ridge to the 7000 feet level. During the drive, and ski touring, crown fractures were visible at SW, W, NE, NW, and N aspects. The fractures appeared to be 25-30 cm deep that ran during the storm cycle only at very steep 37-39 degrees slopes between 6000-7000 feet. Terrain above 7000 was obscured and/or not visible. NO avalanches were observed that might have run on the old snow interface.

Some brush still poking out even with 4 feet of new snow!

Mores Creek Summit Winterland

I was very fortunate that the camera worked early in the day, and allow me to record the PST (Propagation Saw Test) and Ct (Compression Test). After finishing the the snowpit, my Nikon point & shoot refused to work - it reported a "lens error". Too bad, since it did not allow me to document the several areas with crown fractures.

Below a video for the PST test in a 26 degree slope with East aspect. As you will notice in the video, I was surprised by the propagation at the interface between the New snow and old facet layer (~65 cm from the ground) after just sliding the saw )blunt side) less that 5 cm. The slab experienced a sudden collapse after the propagation, suggesting a Q1 score.

The next video is for the compression column test. A previous test, not recorded resulted in a CTVQ1, or column failure during isolation. On this video, a second column was isolated and failed after just placing the shovel blade in top of the column, perhaps between a CTV and CT1Q1.

This was a surprise to me, to find the deeply buried facet layer so sensitive at relatively low elevation (6800 feet) and after being buried so deeply (1.3 meters) by a slab.

Snowpit: New snow from 65 to 195 cm

Between 65 and 155 cm the snow was 4 finger hard, and fist hard from 155 to the surface at 195 cm. A very thin and delicate rain crust was present 20 cm below the snow surface.

The weak layer - a fist hard 2 cm layer of large facets - was found above the pencil hard ground to 63 cm old snow layer.

The snow pit work did not detected any remarkable or reactive layer in the new snow (top 1.3 meter). While skiing down in terrain 30-32 degrees, no new snow surface instabilities were detected, and ski cutting in wind loaded and steep roll-overs did not produce results.

Considering that evidence of "deep" instability was found:

• high probability for trigger likelihood (Easy CT scores)
• high probability for fracture propagation (PST 5/100 End)
• high likelihood of slip after fracture nucleation and propagation at a depth of 1.3 meter (Q1 Scores)

It would be prudent to approach steep slopes ( greeter than 35 degrees) at Mores Creek Summit Area with a high level of prudence. And slopes that have avalanched this season should be considered suspect-ful (Freeman-42, Almost Top of the World, Head waters of Edna Creek, ...).

Last weekend a second Avalanche L1 course was completed by the 705 BSP. We had a good time at Freeman on Saturday, and a fabulous day at Banner Summit on Sunday.

Students at Freeman (Top) and Avi Instructors demonstrating companion rescue.

At Banner Summit, there was about 25-30 cm sweet POW snow (not facets!) that was skiing incredibly well in top of the old facets.

Carl 3X - enjoying the turns last Sunday!

Results for trigger likelihood (CT), and slip likelihood (Q) were moderate CTMQ2 at the students snowpits. However, the propagation likelihood was high (ECTP, PST 40/100 END). Recent avalanches were spotted in the vicinity, thus we restricted skiing to slopes below 35 degrees.

Carl and Judy gathering data.

Pedro with a couple of students at Banner Summit

Thus, it appears that the reactivity of the winter drought facet layer along with its ability to propagate fractures failures will stay with us for while. :(

I would like to take a few lines to congratulate the students that completed the AVI L1 course last MLK weekend. And knowing that they enjoy this blog, I will include few pictures below for their enjoyment. Thanks Judy for the PICS!