Just an update regarding some avalanche activity in Connaught Ck. drainage resulting from the last storm cycle.
Observed two avalanches off of the South East face of Pk.8812 that ran into the bowl below – they looked like they happened sometime yesterday.
One size 2.5 out of steep windloaded rocky terrain on the climbers left side of the face. It didn't run far once it hit the slope transition (looked like late yesterday during the late day wind), nor did it trigger any slab on the lower slope.
Another size 2.5 ran down the usual Bruins bowl ski line, almost made it to the bench above the last pitch to the valley (in other words it ran quite a ways), not sure what the release depth was as I didn't see the fracture on that one. Lots of chunks so watch out if you are skiing it in flat light!
The previously mentioned avalanche from “Frequent Flyer” was a small size 2.0 that ran just past (and over) the summer trail – again looked like it was limited to a storm snow depth (just judging from the deposit size).
There were signs of old avalanche deposits from some of the steep North facing paths of Cheops (Cheops 6 - aka Niccy’s Notch – named in honor of Niccy Code – and Cheops 4 – aka STS Couloir) – which had run to the bottom of the avalanche fans (perhaps on Monday).
Several profiles have shown the Nov.7th surface hoar to be in the 6-7mm size range – getting harder to trigger but still something to keep in mind in steeper alpine features.
Lots of wind recently and today it was not from the west but from the east – so expect some windloading on westerly aspects as well as the usual easterly ones.
Have a great weekend and bring a thermos and puffy jacket as it was definitely chilly out there today!
Cheers,
Scott Davis