Mt Rose avalanche and obs

Snow pack obs 20230110, 0800-1230

Toured from the standard Tamarack TH and did multiple laps in the Mount Rose area this morning to see what the overnight refreeze had done across multiple aspects and how rapidly the snow was warming above 8.5k.’ We toured on N to W aspects and were surprised by how solidly the pack had refrozen on  E-S aspects and how long it remained frozen this morning, despite the warm overnight temps. The wind was generally light and gusting moderate at times. On N-S aspects snow was supportable and there was no ski pen except near and under trees below 9k, near trees ski pen was 5-10cm on southerly aspects.

On the S face of Mt Rose touring was easy because the snow was hard or just starting to soften from 0930-1100 Throughout the day, on E to S aspects boot pen was 10cm or less above 9k’ until we turned onto SW-W aspects. On SW and W aspects there was an isolated 10-15cm refreeze crust over 50-90cm of unsupportable snow at all elevations we toured. Boot pen was consistently 50-60cm. Skis would occasionally break through the crust, and we noticed some collapses while skinning on west tilted aspects. On our way out of the zone we did a few hand shears to test this crust and they failed easily 10-30cm from the surface. (Picture 3).

Avalanche Ob - 20230410 @1150 (Pictures 1 and 2)

Location: Mt Rose, South face, 9500’

Aspect: SE/134d

Slope angle: N/O

WL, ASu, D1R1

While skiing down the S face of Mount Rose at 1150 we skied across the top of a convex roll that faced SE. A small wet loose avalanche released at my feet and ran about 100’ to a bench. The slide remained the same width from release to terminus. Nobody was caught/carried.