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Taos Avalanche Center

Public Observation

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 28, 2024
Submitted:
April 28, 2024
Zone or Region:
Taos Area
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
North Face Lake Fork

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
11500
Aspect:
E
Comments:

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

Cautious travel all day in lake fork basin. Snow on N facing was wintery and variable. W, S, and E were shedding wet loose immediately upon sun exposure. Kind of an uneasy feeling throughout our ascent.

CT12-15 on N from 11800-12300 (storm snow interface 12-25cm deep - more snow at higher elevation)
ECTN15 at 12000 and 12300 N facing
Groppel present on entire N face below 8cm deep dense wind affected top layer (upside down)

Media

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Storm Slab
Comments: 
North face lake fork at 12300. Snow changed quickly throughout our tour and remained wintery in nature. Dug multiple pits along the flanks of Fourth of July coulior with CT15 planar shear results. Uncertain if our results were isolated we continued up to the main face where one might set a boot pack. Upon doing a kick turn plus 8 more steps, we began to trigger a series of large shooting cracks ~2” wide and 15-30’ long. Bailed and returned home safely.
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