Observation Date: 11/19/2011

Route/Location:
From last road switch, contour into McCalla Creek. Uptrack on broad sud-ridge to aproximately 9,000ft. Ski low/moderate angle, SE trees and numerous slabA relatively cohesive snowpack layer. A layer of snow stronger than underlying layers. rock openings and forest clearings. Excellent surface conditions.

Weather:
Mostly cloudy, light snow. 6-8 inches from storm on 11.1832011.

Wind:
Light wind below tree line. Light to moderate winds at and above tree line. Recent signs of moderate snow transport to lee (NW/N/NE).

New Snow: 6-12″

Snow DensityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low densityThe mass of snow per unit volume, but often expressed as a percent water content. New fallen powder has a low density (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%). (3-10%), while heavy or wet snow is more dense (10-20%).: Medium

Avalanche Activity:
Isolated collapsingWhumpf has actually been adopted as a technical avalanche term to describe the sound of a collapsing snowpack when you cross the snow. A sign of instability. in sheltered locations on October snow surfaces. No natural activity observed in N/NE bowls, though wind loadingThe addition of weight on top of a snowpack, usually from precipitation, wind drifting, or a person.The added weight of wind drifted snow. evident. Comfortable skiing 35 degree trees. Snow depth highly variable from 20-120cms. Ski cuts on unanchored, steep pitches had no results. Moderate surface sluffing.

Other Comments:
Fair to good stabilityThe chance that an avalanche will not occur, relative to a given trigger (usually the weight of a human). observed though no observations on northerly aspects. Suspect basal weakness at October snow interface on cold aspects. Localized collapsingWhumpf has actually been adopted as a technical avalanche term to describe the sound of a collapsing snowpack when you cross the snow. A sign of instability. and stabilityThe chance that an avalanche will not occur, relative to a given trigger (usually the weight of a human). testing support potental deep instabilities, though increasing depth should haven overall strengthing stabilityThe chance that an avalanche will not occur, relative to a given trigger (usually the weight of a human). trend. Suspect of steep, north terrain.

Observer: J. Schmalenberg