Observation type
Snowpack
Location (general area)
north face mt baden-powell
Date (yyyymmdd)
20130310
Time
1pm
Road conditions to area
clear to Vincent gap
Temperature
low 30s
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)
Wind direction
not observed
Slope aspect
North
Slope angle
30-40
Elevation
8000-9000
Snow depth
variable, dirt to 3'
Boot/ Ski penetration
boot deep
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
whumphing underfoot, localized cracks on sides of chute while skining up
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes
Rapid warming
no
Terrain trap
yes
Comment
While skinning up the west gullie chute, northface baden-powell, I observed some signs of instability. I dug a series of hand pits and found the problem to be isolated to sides of the chute. As previously reported this area slid last snow cycle. The hand pits reviled that the new 15cm of snow bonded with the bed surface and to the snow from the previous snow cycle but below that, in areas that had not slid, is a combo of a pencil/knife hard 2cm crust on top of 10cm rotten faceted snow. The area skied fine and signs were only observed while climbing. Ski cutting short slopes reviled no results or signs.
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