Wet Loose Surface Instability in Shirley Canyon

Our AIARE Level 1 group observed natural Wet Loose surface instability on a NE aspect at ~6,800' around 9:30AM this morning. This small avalanche was triggered by warming rocks/cliffs above and fanned out, creating lumpy and chunky debris. We observed the small avalanche as it was occurring and noted that it ran over a skin track that we had observed being created the previous day in avalanche terrain. This small avalanche could potentially knock a skier/split boarder off their feet and over the small cliffs below, therefore magnifying the consequences of even a small avalanche, as the forecast warned today.

As we gained the Tram Face Ridge around 7,200', the group observed that the few inches of powder received on Friday evening had been blown away, revealing a supportable crust with faceting snow beneath the crust. Ski quality above this point was firm and less than ideal and wind buffed gullies provided the best skiing for the day.