Three-guardsmen
Quick reportjeffmoskowitz · Jan 16, 2025 · Chilkat Pass
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny
- Ride Type
- mellowSlopes
- Stayed Away
- alpineSlopes, convexSlopes, cutBlocks, steepSlopes
- Riding Quality
- ok
- Snow Conditions
- crusty, hard, powder, windAffected
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSlab
Thin and variable at the pass with signs of recent avalanche activity. Wind effect and areas of soft snow or firmer sastrugi. Probed with a ski pole and felt strong over weak layering. Visible wind transport of snow off the high peaks.
Weather
- Avg Temp
- -15
- Wind Speed
- windSpeedLight
- Blowing Snow
- light
- Sky Condition
- clear
- Wind Direction
- NW
- Temperature Trend
- falling
- Precipitation Type
- none
Sunshine and clear skies. Temperatures were chilly in the shade. Northwest wind blowing light gusting moderate.
Snowpack
- Depth
- 90
- Obs Type
- point
- Site Aspect
- N
- Test Fracture
- sudden
- Site Elevation
- 1050
- Test Initiation
- moderate
- Test Failure Depth
- 45
- Site Elevation Band
- alp
- Surface Conditions
- variable
- Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
- facets
Dug a test pit and got two propagating test results ECTP19 and PST25/100 End down 45cm on weak snow between melt-freeze crusts. Moderate strength, poor structure, and high energy. Talked about how the strength of the crust bridging the weak layer might not give a good indication of instabilities, like cracking or whumphing. Also discussed how a shallow area in the snowpack could act as the perfect trigger point. We turned around and bailed.
Avalanche
- Trigger Type
- natural
- Avalanche Size
- 3
- Start Zone Aspect
- N, NE, W
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Avalanche Character
- persistentSlab
- Crust Near Weak Layer
- 1
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Avalanche Observation
- 24to48hrsAgo
- Weak Layer Crystal Type
- facets
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2025-01-14T20:35:00.000Z
These most likely occurred during the south wind event earlier this week due to their leeward aspect.