New zone, very different snowpack conditions

Quick report

dale.robert.heffernan · Jan 17, 2021 · Vancouver Island

View on map

Quick report

Weather
windy, warm, sunny
Ride Type
alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes
Stayed Away
steepSlopes, convexSlopes
Riding Quality
OK
Snow Conditions
hard, windAffected
Avalanche Conditions
avalancheConditionSound

~120 cm of snow sudden plannar release on 3 wrist taps about 20 cm below surface. Popped on a hoar layer. Also noticed shooting cracks while skinning in the trees to about the same depth. Had another sudden release at 8 taps from the elbow about 35 cm below surface. Popped on an other hoar layer. No results below these two layers. Overall the snowpack here was ever different than White Pass. Thin, dry, full of hoar layers.

Avalanche

two sparate avlanches. Appeared to have started from the crest of the ridge. Both rang long (>1 km). One banked up the side of the creek channel that we were skinning up knocking over small trees. The slide appeared old (wind effected surface on both debris zones).