27 Jan - avalanches

A Size 2 natural deep slab avalanche from today or last night which slide on the ground bed surface at 1200m on a SE aspect near a popular side country area. Recent avalanche warnings as a result of the storm were not misplaced. The crown wall is actually quiet deep and the debris ran a lot further than you can see in this photo. Think about how much snow fell and how much wind loading there has been recently. On shaded and wind protected aspects the skiing is in velvet smooth settling powder, right side up and sitting pretty well on the terrain with no loose snow or storm slab character that I could find on 35-40 degree below treeline terrain near Otari. Having aid that, I was on supported and anchored slopes the whole time. There is good skiing to be had, with the need to identify avalanche start zones and wind effected snow.


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+Hakuba Avalanche Bulletin provided by the Japan Avalanche Network. Pay attention to the valid date and consider how recent weather may change Danger Ratings International avalanche Danger Scale.

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