Big Slides

Quick report

Weather

cloudy, windy

Ride Type

denseTrees, mellowSlopes

Stayed Away

alpineSlopes, convexSlopes

Riding Quality

ok

Snow Conditions

crusty, deepPowder, heavy, wet, windAffected

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSound, avalancheConditionTemp

A large avalanche cycle occurred overnight. Avalanches up to size 3.5 were observed, primarily on lee (north-facing) aspects. While the snowpack continues to grow in complexity, this cycle simplifies our messaging and terrain choices. We are avoiding avalanche terrain until the cycle has fully run its course. Approximately 40 cm of snow fell between Friday and Tuesday, with an additional 10 cm overnight Tuesday. This new snow is rapidly settling under warm temperatures. Avalanches are initiating in wind slabs and stepping down to the December 27 faceted/depth hoar layer. In the case of the size 3.5 avalanche on Big Kahuna, the slide gained sufficient mass to break 60 cm of ice on Bryant Lake. Along the shoreline, lake ice has been pushed downward, and floodwater has saturated the surface snow.

Snowpack

Depth

108

Obs Type

summary

Site Aspect

N

Site Elevation

1100

Test Initiation

hard

Foot Penetration

60

Site Elevation Band

tln

Surface Conditions

variable

Whumpfing Observed

1

Test Failure Layer Crystal Types

facets

Avalanche

Trigger Type

natural

Wind Exposure

leeSlope

Avalanche Size

3.5

Start Zone Aspect

N, S

Vegetation Cover

openSlope

Start Zone Incline

45

Avalanche Character

persistentSlab, windSlab

Number Of Avalanches

6-10

Start Zone Elevation

1900

Runout Zone Elevation

1100

Weak Layer Burial Date

2025-12-27

Avalanche Observation

12to24hrsAgo

Weak Layer Crystal Type

depthHoar, facets

Start Zone Elevation Band

alp

Avalanche Occurrence Datetime

2026-01-14T09:03:00.000Z