Observation from Red Lake Peak

Visited Red Lake Peak to take a look at the multiple skier triggered avalanches that were reported yesterday. The east wind was stronger and colder than I anticipated when choosing my clothes for the day which encouraged me to maintain a quick pace for warmth. Above 8000 ft significant snow was being transported by the wind with plumes visible on all nearby ridges. 

Looking at the two largest avalanches reported yesterday they were both in locations where south west wind could create wind slab and below ridges where wind can deposit significant amounts of snow. The wider slide had large cornices near it. Although settlement and the east winds likely reduced the size of the crowns from a distance I estimate the tallest crown was around a foot. Given the wind loaded location that would be within the storm snow.

I dug a pit a few hundred feet above the longer of the two slides in low angle terrain that was similar but a few degrees more north facing than the east facing gully. 

Leaving the area just after 12:00 I rode the sunny east facing slopes towards Hwy 88. While coverage is a little thin and near the ridge snow quality was firm due to wind scouring, once lower on the slope the snow was still soft and enjoyable. 

Photo 1: Cracking in freshly formed wind slab on SW gully feature. 

Photo 2: Reverse skin track possibly from yesterday on an exposed, cold, windy ridge

Photo 3: Large 8mm surface hoar was widespread near the summit of Red Lake Peak. The wind and sun surely did some damage to the surface hoar but I also observed it in more sheltered below tree line terrain as I was departing Crater Lake. 

Photo 4: Strong E wind visibly blowing snow over the ridge. 

Photo 5: Consistent resistant planar results compression test results about 10 cms down from the surface. This is within the recent storm snow.

Photo 6: Two ECTs and two ECTNs showing similar results to the CTs but no propagation.

Photo 7: Skier triggered slide from yesterday in main gully. This is a frequent slider and the debris ran nearly the full length. 

Photo 8: Impressively wide avalanche in the upper bowl that was reported yesterday. 

Photo 9: Another previous slide that appeared to be from yesterday or earlier on a more south facing slope where it appeared a cornice break triggered a wind slab below.