Hybrid storm slab/loose wet avalanches on Jakes Peak.

Touring Jakes Peak this morning we experienced warming air temperatures right around the freezing mark. New snow amounts in the area were about 4 inches top to bottom on the peak (6,800'-9,200').

As we descended we began to experience small avalanche results from intentional ski cuts on slope features steeper than about 34 degrees. These avalanches were a hybrid of storm slab and loose wet. These avalanches were failing at the old/new snow interface. A small amount of propagation would occur when triggered, snow would start to move as a slab, but would then behave more like a loose wet avalanche while in motion. The avalanches ranged across the wet to dry spectrum, drier up higher, wetter down lower, but with the same behavior.

We intentionally triggered the first of many of these avalanches at about 8,700'. As we continued to descend, triggering became easier as the new snow became wetter. By the time we dropped below 7,800', we could intentionally trigger these avalanches on just about any section of slope that we wanted to ski cut that was steeper than about 34 degrees.

Wind transport on the summit was minimal with wind speeds lower than expected. We did not ski cut or try to initiate failure of any wind slab areas on the summit due to the presence of other parties below us.