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Professional Observation

       

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 13, 2023
Submitted:
February 13, 2023
Observer:
Everett Phillips | ESAC Forecaster
Zone or Region:
Virginia Creek
Location:
Virginia Lakes - Red Lake Area

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Key Points

  • Primary surfaces in the Red Lake area are 5cm of surface snow over pencil to knife hard wind hardened and eroded surfaces.
  • Ski penetration was between 0 and 10cm near and above treeline
  • Ski crampons are highly recommened for travel in this area.
  • Below treeline on low angle and non-solar aspects the snow is softer and less temperature / sun affected than in drainages further south.

Media

Thanks to the Bridgport Avalanche Center for getting ESAC up to VA Lakes for some team observations
Slab interrupted. Soft snow drifted in the hollows between sastrugi (foreground) and thin continuous layers of wind pressed snow on smooth windboard in open bowls (background).

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
35F
Wind:
Light , SW

Sunny, 35F at 10,500′ at 1PM. Strong SW winds at ridgetops increaed throughout the day. Moderate snow transport was obseved throughout the day on ridges and summits with minor drifting into the terrain below.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Comments Photo
3 Past 48 hours N facing bowls above Red Lake
N 10,500' 		D2 WS I-New/Old Interface 6-10" N-Natural These avalanches were reported on the Bridgeport Avalanche Center website yesterday. Likely released inthe early hours of Saturday 2/11.
Natural Wind Slab likely failed overnight during light snowfall and strong SW winds on 2/10 - 2/11.

Several D1 and one D2 natural slab avalanches on N facing terrain between 10500′ and 10800′ above Red Lake. Wind deposited slab from 2/11. No crown profile today. Weak layer grain type unknown.

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