Copper Hut Observations
Avalanchejennr · Feb 1, 2021 · Bonnington
Quick report
- Weather
- stormy
- Ride Type
- mellowSlopes, openTrees
- Stayed Away
- steepSlopes, convexSlopes
- Riding Quality
- good
- Snow Conditions
- deepPowder
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionTemp, avalancheConditionSnow, avalancheConditionSound
We spent this past weekend (Jan 30 - Feb 1) at the Copper Hut in the Bonnington Range arriving at 14:00 Saturday and leaving at 10:00 Monday. We estimated snow accumulations throughout our stay at 35 cm. Trail breaking was difficult with ski penetration averaging 25 cm each day. Freezing levels were observed to rise mid-day Saturday and Sunday, with freezing rain occurring Sunday from 11:00-12:30, leaving a widespread 1-2 mm breakable rain crust that was subsequently buried. We experienced whumphing and cracking each day on a range of terrain features including ridge-tops and low-angle terrain from approximately 1700 m to 2200 m. This, combined with the forecasted avalanche conditions kept us away from slopes of consequence and any overhead hazard.
Weather
- Rainfall Rate
- drizzle
- Sky Condition
- overcast
- Precipitation Type
- snow
From mid-day Saturday, January 30th to noon Monday, February 1st, skies were overcast and it was snowing (or drizzling) consistently in the S-1 to S1 range. Overnight accumulation Saturday night was 11 cm, with 15 cm Sunday night. Rain was observed from 11:00-12:30 Sunday up to 2000 m and created a widespread 1-2 mm breakable rain crust. Winds at ridge-top were moderate to strong from the southwest, but generally light elsewhere. As we descended the Rover Creek FSR on Monday, we observed steady rain below ~ 1500 m.
Snowpack
- Depth
- 245
- Obs Type
- point
- Site Aspect
- NW
- Test Fracture
- resistant
- Site Elevation
- 2040
- Test Initiation
- moderate
- Test Failure Depth
- 37
- Site Elevation Band
- tln
- Surface Conditions
- newSnow, crust
- Whumpfing Observed
- 1
- Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
- stormSnow
We dug a snow pit January 31st at 16:00 on a NW aspect at 2040 in an open glade ~ 20 m below ridgeline (location SE of Copper Hut). Observed 6 mm surface hoar down 55 cm, the three crusts down 58-66 cm, and 10 mm surface hoar down 87 cm. Snow pit depth was 245 cm. Tests included a CTM13 (RP) and an ECTP14, both down 37 cm on a recently buried storm interface layer (2 mm precipitation particles).
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 50
- Slab Width
- 10
- Trigger Type
- natural
- Wind Exposure
- leeSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1.5
- Slab Thickness
- 40
- Start Zone Aspect
- N
- Vegetation Cover
- sparseTrees
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2040
- Avalanche Observation
- moreThan48hrsAgo
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- tln
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2021-01-31T15:00:00
Observed 3 size 1-1.5 slab avalanches in wind-loaded pockets below ridgeline on a north-facing aspect at 2040 m. Crowns appeared to be ~ 40 cm deep but visibility was poor. Suspect avalanches occurred earlier in the week (Thursday or Friday). We also observed another size 1.5 avalanche on our way down the Rover Creek FSR on an E aspect at 1600 m. This storm slab avalanche propagated across convex features within a talus slope immediately above the FSR.