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Taos Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 9, 2023
Submitted:
March 10, 2023
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Williams Lake

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

Most locations have produced CT results with sudden fractures with moderate or hard loading steps on either the bottom or the top of the weak early season snow. Although we have less data, the 20230214 interface seemed to be more reactive in places with a robust MF crust. ECTs have been more variable, but have propagated with moderate/hard loading steps in shallower pit locations. PSTs have been more consistent with the majority of locations producing (End )results with (<50/100). Less is known about the wind zone, but widespread erosion has occurred, while in some places, slabby stiffened snow was noted but did not produce propagating results.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Persistent Slab
Comments: 
Over the last week, our Pro 1 course has completed ~50 snow profiles BTL and NTL on N-E-SW aspects. We experienced one isolated collapse BTL on a NE aspect.
The snowpack is basically two chapters: early season FC/DH make up the bottom half of the snowpack with RG/DFs after the 20230214 storm.
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