Observation 3/11/2025 local_see
Consolidated snow, melt water, and wet slides
Orebed
Observation Details
On the Orebed slide on saddleback:
Deep consolidated snow in a freeze thaw cycle with no visible cracks or wind loading.
We arrived to the slide later in the day, and the snow was beginning to get very hot and heavy.
In places where the sun had already been baking the snow longer throughout the day there were signs of wet slide avalanches. But these areas seemed to have solidified again after the sun left them.
This seemed to be the case with many slides in the Johns brook Valley, although slides with lower elevation, and more sun exposed face appeared to have been already melted down to mostly ice and rock: Bennies Brook for example.
Another hazard to watch for is rivers and streams opening throughout the day and over the coming warm weather. The runout of the slide further down the brook had multiple small ravines where the meltwater had undermined the snow. And some brooks that were easily crossable on the ski in, became fully running rivers by the end of the day.
Observation Photos
Wash out on Orebed Brook open_in_new full size
Orebed slide open_in_new full size
