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Sensitive Cornice near Becker
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Location Name: Becker Ridge Region: Echo Summit Area Date and time of observation: Wed, 12/23/2015 - 12:00 |
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Location Map: United States
38° 49' 52.8384" N, 120° 3' 19.0404" W
See map: Google Maps
US
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Red Flags: Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain Terrain Trap |
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation:
Photo 1: In lower elevation (roughly 7500) trees crust was randomly breakable which made travel somewhat challenging. Even at lowest elevations snow below crust was dry.
Photo 2: Settlement cone.
Photo 3: Surface conditions were mix of firm icy crusts or thin wind deposited new snow. Icy slopes were challenging to navigate and would have warranted ski crampons (if they had been in the pack).
Photo 4: Main chunk of broken cornice (approximately size of a skinny van). A few smaller sections cracked and broke but didn't slide. Below the strong crust (Photo 6) snow was very cohesive and mostly 1 Finger hard.
Photo 5: Highest point of cornice break was 120 cms. Total snow height in this highly wind loaded area was 260cms.
Photo 6: Crust w/ a 2 cms of fresh snow on top. In this area crust was very strong and capable of supporting an adult walking in ski boots but breakable with an aggressive jump in ski boots.
Cornice video is two cuts. The first is initial small cornice break. As I turned (and unfortunately stopped recording video), a large section of cornice broke in front of me. I did not observe any buried rain crusts in the profile I did. As others have observed, cornices are understandly sensitive now due to the recent storms.
