Three guardsmen

Submitted by
jeffmoskowitz
Observations date
Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 21:00
Location
59.613320° N 136.431490° W
Reporting on
  • Snow conditions
Map for Mountain Information Network report: Three guardsmen

Snow conditions

Riding quality was:
Amazing
Snow conditions were:
  • Powder
We rode:
  • Alpine slopes
  • Convex slopes
We stayed away from:
  • Steep slopes
  • Sunny slopes

Information

The day was:
  • Sunny
Avalanche conditions
  • Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Comments

Today may have marked the transition from a honeymoon phase of stability over the past few weeks, into a more dynamic winter to spring snowpack. The reasons we discussed were new snow accumulation, mid-day warming, strong solar radiation, and the development of a persistent weak layer. We felt confident overall but backed off from steep terrain where a shallow snowpack existed around rocks, where we could most likely trigger a slide. Our layer of concern was a double crust, crust-facet combo weak layer down 30-50cm that propagated in an extended column test at 1200m.
Natural avalanche off Mount McDonald that recently occured due to the fresh debris and previous day's snowfall.
Natural avalanche off Mount McDonald that recently occured due to the fresh debris and previous day's snowfall.
ECTP30 down 50cm. The crystal card in the facets where the test failed between the double crust.
ECTP30 down 50cm. The crystal card in the facets where the test failed between the double crust.
Surface conditions were excellent but we avoided steep slopes with a shallow snowpack that could act as trigger points.
Surface conditions were excellent but we avoided steep slopes with a shallow snowpack that could act as trigger points.
Natural activity on alpine solar aspects specifically around rocks and cliffs.
Natural activity on alpine solar aspects specifically around rocks and cliffs.