Observation type
Snowpack
Observer
Chris Maciosek
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Icehouse Canyon & Bighorn Peak
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
20220123
Time
1300
Road conditions to area
Clear
Temperature
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Moderate (17-25mph Small trees sway/ flags stretched)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
~45
Elevation
5000-8400
Snow depth
0-3 ft
Boot/ Ski penetration
0-6 in
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
no
Obvious avalanche path
yes
Terrain trap
yes
Comment
Trail alternates frequently between slippery ice patches and bare trail starting about half way to the saddle. Traction devices are required about 3/4 up. Lots of debris fields at the bottom of the canyon from avalanches, but these are old and are primarily on the south-facing slopes, where there is no longer enough snow mass to trigger a slide. Some fractures caused by skiers on north slopes.
2-3 feet of well-consolidated snow between the saddle and Bighorn Peak. 6" of penetration in most areas with sparse patches of hard ice in the more exposed and sun-facing slopes. No evidence of avalanches above the saddle.
I did not hike Timber, but my visual observations and reports from other hikers indicates that the trail switches frequently between compacted snow, hard ice, and bare trail.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
Snowpack
Observer
Chris Maciosek
Keep me anonymous if published
no
Location (general area)
Icehouse Canyon & Bighorn Peak
Latitude
Longitude
Date (yyyymmdd)
20220123
Time
1300
Road conditions to area
Clear
Temperature
Sky
clear (no clouds)
Wind speed
Moderate (17-25mph Small trees sway/ flags stretched)
Wind direction
not observed
Wind direction in degrees
Slope aspect
North
Aspect in degrees
Slope angle
~45
Elevation
5000-8400
Snow depth
0-3 ft
Boot/ Ski penetration
0-6 in
Precipitation
None
Activity, recent avalanches
No
Brief description
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
no
Rapid warming
no
Obvious avalanche path
yes
Terrain trap
yes
Comment
Trail alternates frequently between slippery ice patches and bare trail starting about half way to the saddle. Traction devices are required about 3/4 up. Lots of debris fields at the bottom of the canyon from avalanches, but these are old and are primarily on the south-facing slopes, where there is no longer enough snow mass to trigger a slide. Some fractures caused by skiers on north slopes.
2-3 feet of well-consolidated snow between the saddle and Bighorn Peak. 6" of penetration in most areas with sparse patches of hard ice in the more exposed and sun-facing slopes. No evidence of avalanches above the saddle.
I did not hike Timber, but my visual observations and reports from other hikers indicates that the trail switches frequently between compacted snow, hard ice, and bare trail.
Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published
