Miller Ck/ Crater Lake

Quick report

Weather

cold

Ride Type

mellowSlopes

Stayed Away

convexSlopes

Snow Conditions

windAffected

Avalanche Conditions

avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSlab

Observations from an AST 1 ski course over the weekend: Toured to Crater Lake via Miller Ck ridgeline on the East side. Snow pack variable, 60-70cm average. Early Nov Crust is visible in snowprofile down 30 cm. In limited snowpack tests we had no result with a compression test, and a Rutschblock Score of 6 (partial block) onthis crust in a layer of facted snow. On small isolated windloaded test slopes we had some cracking and small windslab propogation. Evidence of recent windloading in Alpine on E-NE aspects. We noted one recent Size 2 avalanche in upper Milller Ck in very steep, complex terrain. It appeared to be triggered by a cornice collapse, and triggered a few thin windslabs on the way down through cliffs and gullies. Actuals: Alpine SE 1850m 20-30cm deep x 60m wide x 300m long. Although there is no current bulletin rating for the area, I rated the hazard for the day as Moderate, with Wind Slabs as the primary avalanche problem. Sean Fraser ACMG/ CAA Pro