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Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 27, 2022
Submitted:
January 28, 2022
Observer:
TAC - Andy
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Location:
Lake Fork Peak

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced
Small loose snow avalanches (sluffs) in steep easterly facing terrain. I found isolated pockets of soft shallow wind slabs above treeline. Cracking was isolated to these small obvious pockets of wind drifted snow

Media

Quick pit on Lake Fork Peak (NNE aspect above treeline) with low density new snow on top of a thin supportable wind crust that formed in the middle of January
SE aspect above treeline with a more robust melt-freeze crust (and percolation columns) from the warm temperatures in the middle of January
West aspect on Wheeler Peak with wind loaded snow in the cross-loaded gully

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
6 - 15
Wind:
Calm , NW

Cold start to the morning under clear skies and calm winds. Clouds started building mid-morning with snow starting later in the evening around 5 pm. With calm winds did not observe any drifting snow, but there were about 4 inches of low-density snow available for transport.

Snowpack Observations

Took advantage of the early morning sun before clouds built over the mountains by mid-morning. 2 to 4 inches of low-density snow from Tuesday evening/Wednesday mornings storm was on top of the old firm surface that formed from the three weeks of high-pressure to begin January.

Above treeline, I found isolated pockets of soft wind slab and sastrugi but were not reactive on steep test slopes. Dug a couple of quick pits to show the old/snow new snow interface (See Photos)

Only recent avalanches were small loose snow avalanches in steep terrain on easterly aspects.

Terrain Use

Skiing and riding conditions improved greatly, skiing 4" of light powder on a supportable underfoot surface.

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