Microwave - Mt. Leach Area ( The Needle)
Quick reporthyland.backcountry.safety · Feb 2, 2017 · Purcells
Quick report
- Weather
- cold, sunny
- Ride Type
- alpineSlopes, mellowSlopes
- Stayed Away
- convexSlopes, steepSlopes
- Riding Quality
- OK
- Snow Conditions
- windAffected, powder
Went for a tour intro the area to observe some of the activty from the weekend. There is evidence of a wide spread natural cycle that occurred during the storm up to size 2.5. Most failures appear to have been initially a wind slab, then stepping to the Nov facets/crust. We skied down a bed surface and confirmed it is on the Nov rain crust, and failed in facets above. The slab is a very stiff hardslab. Most failures were on Northerly aspects on immediate lee features, and in steep( 37-45 deg), rocky terrain features in the Alpine. Crowns varied in depth from 50cm to 250cm deep.