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Location Name: 
Northwest aspect of Gray Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
2:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
avy
loading
warming
path

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

After reading the forecast and the previous day's observations, I wanted to assess the snowpack for a potential new crust layer and how it was interacting with the new snow. I chose to ascend Gray Butte, where I could look at multiple aspects for the distribution of the crust. Lots of snow was encountered on the road up to Mount Shasta Ski Park. While heading up the lifts, it was snowing even harder. At one point, it was snowing at least an inch an hour (S2).

Up on Gray Butte, the crust became prevalent on all aspects. Skinning conditions became a little challenging with the new snow easily sliding on the very firm crust. Cornices had grown on the northerly aspects.

A pit was dug to further look at the new crust. The crust appears to be anywhere from 1 cm to 3 cm thick. Variance in thickness is probably due to the aspect and amount of warming that had occurred. About 12 inches of new snow was found on top of the crust. An ECT was performed, where full propagation occurred on tap 14 just below the new crust. 

While skiing down, I pushed multiple small point-release wet loose avalanches on steeper slopes. Though these were harmless, they could travel far and entrain lots of snow below.

On the way out, the snow became more saturated, and it appeared to be raining in the parking lot. 

  • Observation Location: Northwest aspect Gray Butte, just below the ridge
  • Elevation: 7800 feet
  • Date: 20230113
  • Time: 1400
  • Observer: S. Clairmont
  • Sky Conditions: Obscured (X)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S2
  • Air Temperature:  28 °F
  • Surface Penetration: Boot penetration (PF) = 48 in (122 cm)
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 295 cm
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 9 in (22 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 1.7 in (4.3 cm)
  • Wind Direction: SE
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway
  • Column & Block Tests:
    • Slope Angle & Aspect: 38º, NW
    • ECTP14 ↓ 14 in (35 cm)

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Gray Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
12:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
avy
loading
warming

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Expecting storm conditions with strong winds, our party chose to spend the day on Gray Butte. The objective today was to assess instabilities on multiple aspects and get a snow profile near treeline. At Mount Shasta Ski Park, we were surprised by light winds and blue sky making an appearance. The sun began to poke out, and surface conditions warmed quickly. Below 7,000 feet, roller balls, shedding trees, and sticky surface conditions were all obvious signs of strong radiant heat. Above 7,000 feet, surface conditions were colder, trees were completely rimed up, and large wind drifts were found on westerly aspects. Broken trees were seen all across upper Gray Butte from previous strong winds.

A pit was dug on the west face of Gray Butte, mid-slope (~7500 feet) with a NW aspect. Snow depth was 255 cm (100 inches), the pit profile represents the upper 189 cm. Overall, well consolidated recent storm snow was found. No instabilities in the snowpack were observed. I got an ECTX result and a shovel shear test showed no obvious failure planes.

On a different note, a decent amount of debris was found in the runout of the west face of Gray Butte, skiers right of the pit site. The widespread nature and volume of debris warrants a future mission to see the crown. 

  • Observation Location: Gray Butte
  • Elevation: 8,100 feet
  • Date: 20230109
  • Time: 1200
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Broken (BKN)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - NO
  • Air Temperature: 32 °F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 100 in (255 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 8 in (20 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Water Equivalent (HN24W): 1.3 in (3.3 cm)
  • Wind Direction: S
  • Wind Speed: Calm (C), 0 mi/hr
  • Column & Block Tests:
    • Slope Angle & Aspect (33º, NW)
    • ECTX

Weather Observations

Statistics

Location Name: 
Mt Eddy
Region: 
Mt Eddy
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
7:00am
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path

Location Map

Avalanche Observations

Details

Today's objective was to evaluate the snowpack in the Eddy Mountains for signs of instability. Snow was met around 5,000 feet on Parks Creek road. We traveled up the road on snow machines and parked near the Sweetwater snow survey course. We began our ascent up a north facing ridge, providing a safe low-angle route to see the upper terrain. 

While skinning up, this crown was spotted in a bowl feature lined with terrain in the 35-40 degree range. This avalanche appears to have happened within the last 24 to 36 hours. The failure plane was a thin layer of stellar dendrites that likely fell during the intermittent storm period yesterday (1/6/23 to 1/7/23) and then buried by 3 feet of wind loaded storm snow.  This was a fairly widespread avalanche, releasing from nearly all aspects greater than 35 degrees in the surrounding terrain. The avalanche had a crown approximately 3 feet tall, was 400 feet wide and ran 300 vertical feet into trees.

Our party stayed clear of avalanche terrain throughout the day. 

  1. Date: 01-08-2023
  2. Time: 1400  

    3. Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers

    4. Path Characteristics:
    • a. Observation Location: Eddy Mountains, near Parks Creek summit
    • b. Aspect: N
    • c. Slope Angle in Starting Zone: 38 degrees
    • d. Elevation: 7000 ft
  • 5. Event Characteristics
    • a. Type: Hard Slab
    • b. Trigger: Natural
    • c. Size: HS-N-R3-D2.5-I
    • d. Snow Properties
      • i. Bed Surface: Well consolidated slightly older storm snow deposited during Jan 5-6 storm system
      • ii. Weak Layer: Thin layer stellar dendrites 
      • iii. Slab: 4-finger hardness new snow
  • e. Dimensions
    • i. Slab Thickness:  3 ft (90 cm)
    • ii. Width: 400 ft
    • iii. Vertical Fall: 300 ft
  • f. Location of Start Zone: Just below ridgeline
  • g. Terminus: Flats below bowl with trees 

Characteristics

Avalanche Type: 
Slab
Trigger type: 
Natural
Aspect: 
North
Terrain: 
Near Treeline
Weak Layer: 
Storm Snow
Bed Surface: 
Storm Snow

Weather Observations

Details

Storming conditions were found in the Eddy Mountains above 5000 feet. Visibility turned poor, with short periods of partial clearing as elevation increased. Above 6000 feet, moderate precipitation rates and moderate to strong south winds were met. Wind speeds increased with blowing snow while approaching ridgeline (~7000ft).

Statistics

Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Precipitation: 
Snow
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Speed: 
Strong
Wind Direction: 
Southeast
Location Name: 
Gray Butte
Region: 
Mt. Shasta
Date and time of observation: 
1:00pm
Observation made by: 
Forecaster
Red Flags:
loading

Location Map

Snowpack Observations

Details

Todays objective was to get on the mountain, assess current weather trends with the intensifying storm, and look for yesterdays observed surface crust with the new snow. Nick and I chose to go up to the summit of Gray Butte where we could observe N-S-E-W aspects. 

Leaving the parking lot at Mount Shasta Ski Park, it was snowing moderately with light winds out of the southeast. As we ascended near the summit of Gray Butte, winds elevated to moderate consistently out of the southeast. Small wind drifts and cornices became obvious at higher elevations. At the summit (near tree line terraij), southerly aspects were patchy with light new snow and old surface crust. Northerly aspects had significantly more snow with obvious wind transport texture. Cornices were growing over the west bowl of Gray Butte and the northeast aspect of the summit. There is likely to be crossloading on easterly aspects as well. 

After leaving the summit, a pit was dug in the west face of Gray Butte to assess the stability of new snow over the old surface crust (20230102). The pit was dug at an elevation of 7500 feet (below treeline), with a west aspect. we found 8 inches (20 cm) of new snow on top of the ~4mm surface crust, with old snow below. Upon performing an ECT, failure and full propagation occured on isolation of the column (Q1). Failure plane was directly on top of the old surface crust.

This ECT result could provide insight into what stability will be like in the backcountry these next few days. 

  • Observation Location: Gray Butte summit and west face. 
  • Elevation: 8100 feet
  • Date: 20230104
  • Time: 1300 
  • Observer: S. Clairmont and N. Meyers
  • Sky Conditions: Overcast (OVC)
  • Current Precipitation: Type - SN, Rate - S1
  • Air Temperature: 25°F
  • Total Snow Depth (HS): 67 in (170 cm)
  • 24-hour New Snow Depth (HN24): 2 in (5 cm)
  • Wind Direction: SE
  • Wind Speed: Moderate (M), 17-25 mi/hr, small trees sway
  • Column & Block Tests:
    • Slope Angle & Aspect: 37º, W 
    • ECTPV ↓ 8 in (20 cm)

 

Weather Observations

Statistics

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