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BNSF Avalanche Safety Field Observations
Location Name:
Snowslip Mountain/Burnout to Shed 7 avalanche paths
Observation date:
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 17:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured up the SE ridge of Snowslip Mountain above the Burnout and Sheds 4D, 5, and 7 avalanche paths. Turned around at about 6500 feet elevation and descended the same route. On descent stopped and dug one snowpit in the Shed 5 avalanche path.
Skies alternated between broken cloud cover to fully overcast with occasional light graupel/snow showers (S1). Winds were sometimes calm but then would pick up from the west with gusts reaching the 20-30 mph range. Winds seemed to be stronger and steadier to the east and at higher elevations. Nearby Elk Mountain often had a plume of snow blowing off the summit (photo 1). Air temperatures were just below freezing at the Canyon floor and in the mid to high 20s °F above 6000 feet elevation.
Snow conditions were quite variable on the tour. Below 5500 the surface snow was just barely starting to crust over following yesterday’s warm-up (daytime temps reached into the low 50s °F at the Canyon floor) with heavy, wet snow underneath.
From 5500-6000 feet the surface crust was more stout, but still breakable.
Above 6000 feet the crust was absent on shady aspects but also sometimes supportable on sunny aspects.
West winds were occasionally loading easterly aspects above 6000 feet. Below 6000 feet the snow available for transport was limited.
Dug a snowpit at 5850 feet elevation on an easterly aspect and 29 degree slope (photo 2 – pit profile).
Found a fairly strong snowpack, but the poor structure remains.
HS 164 cm (0 cm at the ground).
Stability Tests Results: ECTN12 @130 cm and ECTN23 @116 cm. CT13 Q2 @130 cm and CT23 Q2 @116 cm.
No avalanche activity from today.
Wet loose debris (size D1-D2) ran yesterday in the Infinity, 1163, and Shed 10 avalanche paths. All debris terminated well above the rail grade.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 17:00
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Within storm snow
Trigger
Trigger:
natural
Terrain
Aspect:
South
Starting Elevation:
above-treeline
Size
Destructive Size:
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
