4-15-06, Magog

(wet avalanches)

Clearing after overnight rainfall and several days of warm temperatures revealed evidence of numerous natural wet avalanches.  Most of the short steep slopes above Tony Grove Lake shed the rain-soaked surface layer in broadening point releases. More natural and triggered wet avalanches are likely in the region today, especially as it heats up.

Yesterday my party triggered a few wet point-release avalanches, which entrained a good deal of snow.  In some cases, these slow moving and easily managed slides could trigger a larger and more dangerous wet slab avalanche, simply by over-running a steep melt-weakened slope.

Yesterday we noticed several new deep and spooky glide cracks at mid and upper elevations.  It would be unlikely for you to trigger a glide avalanche, but natural glide avalanches are possible this time of year any time of day or night on particular slopes with smooth ground or rock surfaces, which become lubricated by melt-water.  I can only suggest that you stay out of debris collecting gullies and out from under steep sodden slopes and obviously dangerous avalanche paths.

Although clouds obscured my views throughout the day, I noticed some larger and significant recent natural wet avalanches on the east face of Magog.