Details

• Date: 2022/12/08

• Observer: Chris Bilbrey
• Organization: Forecaster, CAIC

Location

• BC Zone: Southern San Juan
• Area Description: Upper Deer Creek

Weather

• Ridgeline Wind Speed: 5-10 mph
• Ridgeline Wind Direction: SW
• Wind Loading: Light
• Sky Cover: Clear
• Weather Description: Clear and sunny. Moderate winds were moving snow in the alpine during the morning. By mid-morning, winds subsided and a light breeze felt along ridgetops. New snow totals ranged 12 to 16 inches depending on location.

Snowpack

• Snowpack Description: No shortage of loud rumbling collapses and shooting cracks on our travels. The new snow on southerly-facing slopes was setting up quickly from sunny skies and warmer temperatures. We noticed a few tiny rollerballs in steeper areas that see direct sunshine, but not posing a new hazard or problem. Lots of surface texturing in the alpine from strong winds during the storm. Some slopes looked like waves in the ocean. Southerly and westerly snow fetches above treeline are still full of snow and this could promote additional drifting if wind speeds increase in the coming days.

Snowpack Obsvervation Cracking: Moderate Collapsing: Rumbling Persistent Weak Layer: Yes Comments: We observed loud rumbling collapses across all aspects and elevations during our travels.

Avalanches

	Date	Location/Path	#	Elev	Asp	Type	Trig	SizeR	SizeD
	2022/12/08  †		1	>TL	E	HS	N	R3	D2
Date: 2022/12/08 (Estimated) Observer: Chris Bilbrey Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Upper Deer Creek Elevation: 11850 ft Sliding Surface: G - At Ground/Ice/Firm Weak Layer: Layer Weak Layer Grain Type: Faceted Crystals Average Crown: 24 in Maximum Crown: 60 in Maximum Width: 700 ft Maximum Vertical: 1100 ft Comments: Slide appears to initially failed in the upper faceted layer (11/29 interface), then stepped to the ground across most of the crown face.
	2022/12/08  †		1	TL	NE	SS	N	R2	D2
Date: 2022/12/08 (Estimated) Observer: Chris Bilbrey Organization: Forecaster, CAIC Area Description: Upper Deer Creek Elevation: 11600 ft Sliding Surface: O - Within Old Snow Weak Layer: Layer Weak Layer Grain Type: Faceted Crystals Maximum Crown: 24 in Maximum Width: 200 ft Maximum Vertical: 400 ft Comments: Significant natural shooting cracks on adjacent slopes that did not avalanche.

Media

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