Adirondack CommunityAvalanche Project

Observation Details

Approach from Loj was mostly snow covered, but some rock dodging.

On the slide itself, the snowpack was clearly windloaded. We dug a pit near the base (3000ft) and observed ECT 15 and ECT 24. The first weak layer was about 20cm below the surface. At 24, a lower layer collapsed, about 60cm below the surface. Both layers showed no signs of propogation. After prying from behind, the 30cmx30cm collapsed part of the column rolled off at the 60cm layer, and the bottom 10cm was a solid, dense layer. Above that, the snow was light, dry powder. With further shovel prying, the other 60cm of column also rolled off at the 60cm weak layer.

Booting up with crampons and ice axes, we found, around 3400ft, the snowpack was even more solid. We dug a hand pit and observed no weak layer where the 20cm layer previously was. With this, we decided it was safe to ski, and the skiing was epic.

Skier's left side of the slide is still thin, with exposed ice and rocks, but skier's left was wind loaded and deep. A few more storms are crucial to deepen the snowpack, but the turns were sweet. This week's weather will certainly lead to some interesting changes, however.