Public Observation

Observation Date:

January 26, 2021

Submitted:

January 27, 2021

Zone or Region:

Santa Fe Area

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Tesuque Peak, near Triple/Radio Towers

Did you trigger any avalanches?

Yes

Was it intentional?

No

Avalanche Type:

Soft Slab

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

12025', at treeline

Aspect:

E

Comments:

shooting cracks, remotely triggered small slides into watershed

Photo:

Did you see shooting cracks?

Yes, Widespread

Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?

No

East-facing aspect of Tesuque Peak near Radio Towers, above SF Watershed, ATL. Widespread shooting cracks and remotely triggered small avalanches on wind-loaded convexities. Pit location is almost certainly wind loaded. HS 138cm. Profile revealed storm slab (Jan 25-26) above denser layers from previous storm (Jan 18). Persistent weak layers of faceted crystals present from 45cm to ground, consistent with earlier profile (Jan 12).
extended column test: ECTX
shovel shear: STM@75, STM@0
propagation saw test: PST END@75

shooting cracks and crown fracture of remotely triggered slide near summit of Tesuque Peak