Close
Taos Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
November 29, 2020
Submitted:
November 29, 2020
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Lake Fork Cirque - S aspect 36.55438, -105.44300

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
No
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Isolated

Observations

Toured from WL trailhead up into lake fork cirque, stuck to 35 deg or shallower terrain. Had a bad time skiing down, lots of invisible submerged rocks. Once again seeing the primary instability in the graupel layer at 65cm.

Media

pit profile
CT results, block was removed by applying pressure from behind with shovel but slid off easily, graupel visible left behind
snowpilot pit profile
Pit location on map

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Storm Slab
Comments: 
S aspect around 12000 feet, large layer of heavy storm snow over graupel layer.
Close