Microwave - Mt. Leach Area ( The Needle)

Quick report

hyland.backcountry.safety · Feb 2, 2017 · Purcells

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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.