Public Observation
Observation Details
Observation Date:
March 20, 2023Submitted:
March 20, 2023Zone or Region:
Taos AreaActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Bull of the woods yurtTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
11700Aspect:
NEComments:
Predictable fresh wind slab on NE aspect.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
11000Aspect:
NEComments:
Observed older storm slab crowns from 3/16 or early 3/17. Approximately 40cm crown height. Wind eroding crowns and loading when we observed on 3/19. No step downs observed.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
Skied from Friday to Mon, out of the bull of the woods yurt. We mostly avoided avalanche terrain and skied NW aspects at or below tree line around 30degrees.
On the same NW aspect we observed the depth hoar 110cm deep @ 11000ft and 180 cm down from the surface @ 11550ft. Possible the difference in height was due to wind transport, although both pits were below ridge line in the trees? We experienced stubborn sudden collapse results on the depth hoar (ECTH SC & ECTX) but never experienced whumpfs while skinning.
A pencil hard sun crust 1-2 cm thick had formed by 3/20 on S aspects and a thin zipper sun crust formed on W and E aspects.
On 3/19 we observed rapid loading at 11900 ft scouring W aspects and loading E aspects. Small natural wind slabs were breaking during our time observing up high.
We had great views and glassed many of the surrounding peaks for signs of larger avalanches, but did not see much natural activity outside of a few DL and SS releases within the new storm snow.
Ski quality on N aspects was as good as it gets
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