19-20
Large natural on E side Woody Ridge, Cooke
From an observation, " Climax slid quite large several days ago. We could get a good look at the crown because of the wind, but I’m guessing it was a wind slab that stepped down."
"Climax" is the what the locals call the large east face on Woody Ridge above Hayden Creek.
"...picture is a close up of the avalanche on the ridge between Elephant and Blackmore on a south aspect. This one was the largest and the most fresh. All avalanches appeared to be naturally triggered from wind loading." Photo: T. Chingas
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Feb 18, 2020
"looking at Alex Lowe Peak from the west ridge of Elephant. There were 5 avalanches clearly visible. I highlighted the crowns/debris paths with red." Photo: T. Chingas
Collapsing and Cracking on Black Mtn, N Madison
While touring up black mountain on Saturday, February 15th 2020, our group heard very loud whoofing on flat ground, collapsing large areas. There was small cracks formed but we were on very low angle slopes. We switched to a back-up plan to get down. A second large whoofing occurred minutes later a short distance away from the first. This time we could feel the snow drop below us by a few inches. We turned around and followed our tracks down. We dug two pits in the vicinity of the collapsing. Two extended column tests produced failures on the same depth hoar at the ground, ECTP 23 and ECTP 16. The latter result was on a pit of at least a meter deep. WE collapsed another flat while skiing down. No other obvious signs of instability were seen.
Shooting cracks on Mt Blackmore
"Toured up Blackmore today, we had shooting cracks under our feet along the north east ridge line."
"Toured up Blackmore today... Also saw the wheeler mountain avalanches from a few days ago." Photo: Mike Murray
"Toured up Blackmore today, we had shooting cracks under our feet along the north east ridge line." Photo: Mike Murray
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Feb 18, 2020