Professional Observation
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
January 12, 2023Submitted:
January 12, 2023Observer:
Barbara Wanner | Key ObserverZone or Region:
Lee ViningLocation:
Good stability on ENE face of Copper Mountain after the stormSigns of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
None ObservedCracking?
None ExperiencedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedSnow Stability
Stability Rating:
GoodConfidence in Rating:
HighStability Trend:
ImprovingKey Points
Skinned up to the shoulder of Copper Mountain to 8500′.
- Warm temps and intense solar radiation warmed the snow on the SSW facing slopes we ascended. Started seeing rollerballs coming off rock outcroppings.
- By 1430 most of the sky as covered with high cirrus clouds and a crust was forming on steeper solar slopes.
- I stomped on several wind pillows and small cornices and never saw any reactivity. The snow seemed very locked in.
- We skied the ENE facing slopes on Copper Mountain on the slopes that had slid during the storm but we did not see anymore signs of instability on that aspect.
- HS at 8500′ in the lee of the ridge was 180 cm, Boot pen up to my waist, Ski pen 20 to 30 cm.