Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Alex Reed / Ethan 

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
San G Wilderness

Latitude

Longitude

Date (yyyymmdd)
03/25/23

Time
5:30am-3:30pm

Road conditions to area
dry

Temperature
Low 20's - High 20's

Sky
few clouds (up to 2/8)

Wind speed
Calm (smoke rises vertically)

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
not observed

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
N, NW

Elevation
Max elevation of 11,250'

Snow depth
not observed 

Boot/ Ski penetration
not observed 

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
yes

Brief description
Multiple R1, D1 avalanches observed on extreme terrain between San G. and Big Draw at about 11,000'. Looked to be isolated wind slab avalanches that did not propagate deeper into the snowpack. 

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no

Rapid warming
no

Obvious avalanche path
no

Terrain trap
no

Comment
We toured from 6,900' feet up to 11,250'. Snow coverage was good enough to begin skinning right at 6,900'.

Zero wind, with occasional gentle gusts. Temps were cold, did not measure but felt like high teens / low 20's in the morning.

Skinned up to 11,250' and winds continued to stay calm, temps felt like well below freezing. 

Minimal crusts were observed on the skin up. 

After ascending into the bowl beneath Little Charlton/Jepson we observed multiple small r1d1 avalanches on steep exposed NW facing aspects well above treeline. They appeared to be small wind slabs that released. 

Some moderate cornice formation on the ridge between Jepson Peak and Little Charlton suggests some loading on the N and NE aspects below alpine ridge lines, but no other other signs of instability were observed. 

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published