Meachen, Matthew, and Cherry Creek Areas

Riding quality was:

Amazing

Snow conditions were:

• Powder

We rode:

• Dense trees
• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Alpine slopes
• Steep slopes

The day was:

• Cold
• Sunny

Avalanche conditions

• Slab avalanches today or yesterday.
• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Searching for the Jan. 17th Layer

Matthew Creek (Feb 8):

20-30 cm of unconsolidated snow sits on top of this Surface Hoar/Facets/Crust Layer. New snow poorly bonded to old snow, creating widespread sloughing. Saw evidence of small naturals in open treed areas. Skied supportive treed slopes and managed slough as we were skiing.

Meachen Creek(Feb 9):

30 cm of unconsolidated snow on top of Jan. 17th SH/FC/CR layer. Observed wide spread natural cycle on steep south facing alpine rocky features, loose dry avalanches running to mid run out zones, size 1 up to size 2. In the Alpine bowls, naturals observed, size 2 on N-NE aspects. Wind slabs up to 50 cm deep, 200 m wide, running 150m. Too cold for my camera to get a few pictures!

Cherry Creek Area (Feb 10):

Dug a very quick pit in an open meadow at ~2000m. 30 cm of 4F snow sits on top of the Jan 17th SH/FC/CR layer, size 2.0-3.0 SH. Layer easily seen and felt.

We experienced large settlements in cut blocks and observed shooting cracks in areas where the snow was more consolidated. Large alpine features look wind blown and evidence of natural wind slabs in lee features at about 2400m.

With more load and consolidation of the new snow above this layer, I am sure we will start to see more results on this layer in the next few days/weeks.