Natural Avalanches and Surface Hoar at Lionhead

Natural Avalanches and Surface Hoar at Lionhead

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

We rode up Denny Creek and over toward Watkins Creek, etc. We observed two recent natural avalanches that broke 1-2 feet deep, presumably on a surface hoar layer. There was a couple of inches of snow on each of these slides, so I would place them between three and five days old. The slides were R1-D1.5 in size - 75-100' wide, 1-2' deep, and 100' vertical fall. 

We dug a quick pit with a snow height of 120 cm (4 feet) and found one layer of surface hoar buried 5" deep (ECTP2) and 4 Finger + facets near the ground (ECTP26). We were not concerned about natural avalanches today, but they will be a concern with a few inches of new snow or more on any slope on which the surface hoar is present (assume it is everywhere at Lionhead).

Region
Lionhead Range
Location (from list)
LIONHEAD AREA
Observer Name
David Zinn