Skied Dispatchers/Ursus Trees area today.
Lots of whumpfs and shooting cracks in Ursus Trees. The culprit layer is
surface hoar on top of a suncrust on top of facets. This is buried by 50 cm of
low density snow. We had a Rutschblock score of 1 on this layer - it failed
while cutting the block.
Another group triggered a size 1 wind slab on an open slope at tree line in
Dispatchers. It only propagated about 7 m and didn't run far. It failed on
surface hoar down 50 cm (no suncrust here) and the slab was very soft.
I think this layer is on the verge of being overloaded on a widespread basis
and it is going to be reactive when it is. The slab just needs to be a bit
stiffer.
Mark Klassen
ACMG-IFMGA Mountain Guide
alpinism.com
Sent from my mobile device for which I refuse to advertise
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