Wet loose avalanches in JFS Canyon

Widespread wet loose avalanche cycle over the weekend in JFS Canyon on the steep and sunny slopes above the railroad. The action continues today...

• Observed dozens of D1-D2 avalanches that ran over the weekend. Initiating mostly on steep terrain and near rock outcrops and cliff bands but at all elevations between 4000-7000 feet.
• Noted how deep some of the avalanches were running in the near-surface faceted snow formed last month. At low-mid elevations some larger slides were even gouging deeper, nearing 2 feet in depth and removing most of the season's snowpack.
• In at least one instance some wet loose debris released a few narrow slabs as it moved downhill (photo).
• In the larger paths with activity such as Shed 10 and 1163 total debris runout exceeded 2000 vertical feet. Path 1163 already has a well-defined runnel down the gut.
• Lower angled paths such as Sheds 7 & 8, and the uppermost reaches of Shed 9 had limited activtity.
• The snowpack was solidly locked down this morning with a supportable crust extending above 7000 feet. Winds were calm, or light and variable above 6000 feet.
• Steep E-SE aspects were starting to soften by 10 am and wet loose activity began again around noon. Around 1 pm another D2-size wet loose had run in Path 1163.