June mountain ski area, Alamowana

Posted January 25th, 2012 by sburak
Date and time of observation: 
January 25, 2012 - 4:10pm
Region: 
June Lake Area
Observation Type: 
Snowpack
Route: 

 Proceeded west from Mid Chalet approx 200 m to 24 degree north facing open slope in glades.

Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Wind Speed: 
Calm
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Precipitation: 
None
Accumulation rate: 
None
More detailed information about the weather: 

 Air temperature = 9C. Few, less than 2/8 covered. Calm winds. 

Snowpack & Snowpit Observations
Information about the snowpack/snowpit: 

 Low snowpack, total snowpack depth =56cm. Numerous vegetation anchors and snow covered rocks on slope. Snow in trees, settlement cones around trees. 
Hand hardness ranged from fist to pencil with varying hardness in storm layers- not a consistent increase in hardness as snow depth increased. Moist depth hoar layer at base, 8-10 cm depending on vegetation. Depth hoar layer was fist a ground then
increased in hardness and coarse texture  to storm snow. Storm snow consisted of very small grains, dry snow. 
Conducted Tilt test, compression tests, ECT and Rutschblock. 
Tilt test result 11 cm down.  Compression tests, Moderate, sudden collapse at basal depth hoar, progressive failure at 22 cm.
ECT test- ECTP19, sudden collapse on basal depth hoar.
Rutschblock = 7- no loading steps produced failure. Most of the block. Failed on basal depth hoar. Slope angle was 24 degrees so technically not a Rutschblock test because slope angle did
not meet 30 degree minimum slope angle required for test. 

 

Avalanche Observations
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

 

Comments: 

 

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