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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 11, 2021
Submitted:
March 11, 2021
Observer:
TAC - Andy Bond
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Location:
Bull of the Woods Area

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Media

Steep terrain like this on East aspects have seen loading from recent snow and strong winds forming wind slabs on top of Crusts
A good example of how the strong winds over the last several days have stripped and scoured west facing terrain with snow remaining on East and North aspects
Facets are forming below the melt-freeze crust from that formed from last weeks warm temperatures and sun

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Clear
Temperature:
20 - 39
Wind:
Strong , SW

SW winds were blowing in the 20's gusting in the mid 50's at ridgetops. No new snow was being transported.

Snowpack Observations

Went for a walk beyond Bull of the Woods to check out the steep East aspects on the way up to Mt. Walter. The 2 to 3 inches of snow from Tuesday had already been transported onto the leeward sides of ridgelines creating 4 to 8" slabs that formed on top of a melt-freeze crust from the warm weather earlier in the week.

The snowpack is still cold snow near and above treeline and found several shallow snowpacks in start zones on paths that have previously avalanched multiple times already earlier in the season.

I was finding a faceted layer just below the melt-freeze crust that was reactive in stability tests. This will more than likely be a weak layer of concern going forward into the weekend if we do see significant snowfall.

I was not finding wind slabs to be reactive in my travels.

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