Tony Grove Lake 1-10-06

                  I've noticed that some folks like to trigger avalanches for sport.  Small slides can add to the excitement of a run.  This avalanche from 1-9-06, is just north of Tony Grove Lake on a 40+ degree ESE facing slope at about 8400'.  It's less than a foot deep and ~50' wide.

                 Here's a look at the crown profile.  New, wind-drifted snow slid easily off last week's sun-crust

                                                     Looking up the southern flank at the small crown.

    A snowboarder triggered this small soft slab avalanche on a 45+ degree NE facing slope just south of the lake minutes before I rode up. 1-10-06

          As the next storm approaches, I hope you understand that heavy snowfall and high westerly winds will likely cause a deeper and more widespread avalanche problem.

                                                           Storm clouds build over the Wellsville Range, 1-10-06