Kosciusko NP NSW:
RECENT OBSERVATIONS
UPDATED: 1st / october /2018
REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 5th / OCTOBER / 2018
OBSERVATION SUMMARY
TREND: IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING
CURRENT OBSERVATION:
The freezes are softening quickly. The North aspects at mid and higher elevations are displaying the characteristics of deep solar penetration. This is deeply rotten snow (dust affected?)… however it’s slumping and consolidating between re-freezes overnight, as opposed to releasing as natural wet slides. Easy skier triggered slurries expected to occur on them without an overnight re-freeze (Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd). Similarly a keen eye must be kept for glide cracks that are opening up on all aspects. Some easy results / sluffs occurred on steep wind sheltered South and East aspects (leeward of the divide) which are still very firm underneath. This is on a layer of 1 finger resistance rounded polycrystals from 20cm to 45cm. The Western Faces have hit ‘Open Season’ status with an even cover, fully saturated snowpack, warming early with day temps ahead of solar exposure.
OUTLOOK: Sheltered east and south aspects will present a moderate avalanche problem for small wet slides on steeper terrain. Those hitting the western face be careful of full thickness tear-outs to ground as there may be ground water runoff happening with ambient air temps around 15 degC
PRIMARY HAZARD: ABOVE 2000M
PRIMARY HAZARD:
FROM MONDAY ONWARDS
SECONDARY HAZARD
TERTIARY HAZARD
We’ve observed these crrepers from the deep growing everywhere over the last week. Not a huge hazard from the ‘release’ as these are slow moving like a glacier. More like the ‘changed traffic condition’ sign around road works… Keep a keen eye out for cracks as falling into one of these would be nasty, particularly at speed.
The EXTRA Column
The information provided here deviates from the standard reporting format that we apply to the travel advisory. It sometimes shows recent field obs results and images. It is pitched at participants looking for more detail.