Observation type
Snowpack

Observer
Ryko

Keep me anonymous if published
no

Location (general area)
Baden-Powell

Latitude
34.3684

Longitude
-117.7558

Date (yyyymmdd)
20200216

Time
8:00

Road conditions to area
clear, but Highway 2 is closed from Vincent Gulch to Islip Saddle

Temperature

Sky
clear (no clouds)

Wind speed
Light (1-16mph Flags/twigs in motion)

Wind direction
not observed

Wind direction in degrees

Slope aspect
North East

Aspect in degrees

Slope angle
28

Elevation
7300

Snow depth

Boot/ Ski penetration

Precipitation
None

Activity, recent avalanches
No

Brief description
Weak(ish) wind-loaded slope in a gully

Whumphing noises, shooting cracks. collapsing
yes

Rapid warming
no

Terrain trap
yes

Comment
I was booting up the lower NE gully on Baden-Powell and noticed things had looked a bit wind-loaded in the gully, but the sides were light on snow. 

Halfway up it got really deep and felt 2 small whumphs (no cracks though). I dug a quick pit on the side and found that the top layer slid with about 2-3 pounds of force (went really easily). The 4 inch slab sat on about 4-5 inches of soft gropple. Underneath that was the ice crust. Decided to get off the slope. Pretty sure it was from the NE winds that came with the storm last weekend (and the fact that its a gully).

Along the PCT there was also 4-5 inches of snow on the ice crust but nothing slid at all and the sun had kinda baked it down. It felt fine to ski.

Publish this observation
Yes I would like this observation Published