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Fairly recent crown on Kupunkamint
Location Name:
Kupunkamint Mountain
Observation date:
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 - 11:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Public
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured in the North Fork Cut Bank Creek and Lake Creek drainages.
Observed a crown on a South-facing slope on Kupunkamint Mountain. Probably ran during 3/18 storm or during subsequent wind event. Debris covered by fresh snow, but seems to have run full path, about 2000'.
Observed no other recent slab avalanches and no obvious signs of instability such as shooting cracks.
Settled new snow depths: 3" at 5500', 6" at 6500'.
Above 6500' the snow surface was extremely wind-effected on all aspects.
Observed 1-3 foot deep recent wind slabs on Northeast aspects that stubornly failed at old snow interface on skin track switchbacks on a 35 degree slope.
Wind-exposed areas offered plenty of snow-free travel options.
Late in the afternoon, steep mid elevation slopes (both sunny and shaded) produced small rollerballs and wet sluffs in the top 3-6 inches of snow.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Outside of the Advisory Area
Activity:
Skiing
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Sunday, March 18, 2018 - 01:00
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Unknown
Trigger
Trigger:
natural
Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle:
38
Aspect:
South
Starting Elevation:
8400 feet
Size
Destructive Size:
D3 - Could destroy a car, a wood house, or snap trees
Relative Size:
R3 Medium
Crown Height:
2 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):
2000ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width):
500ft.
Avalanche Location:
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