Green Butte Ridge (Powder Bowl)

Observations on Green Butte, Powder Bowl:

• TIME: 20200307 - 1100 to 1300
• ASPECT: Northeast
• ELEVATION: 9,000 Feet
• SKY: Obscured
• PRECIPITATION: Very light snowfall S-1 (<1 cm/hr) 
• BLOWING SNOW: Yes moderate blowing snow loading easterly aspects
• TEMPERATURE: 25°F
• BOOT / SKI PENETRATION: Boot 3-5 inches (7-12 cm), Ski 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) 
• HEIGHT OF SNOW (HS): BTL-40 inches (100 cm) NTL- 55 inches (140 cm) ATL- 45 inches (115 cm)
• HEIGHT OF STORM SNOW (HST): 5 inches (12 cm)
• WIND: Fresh breeze 19-24 mi/hr NNW

On a tour from Bunny Flat to the top of Green Butte, the new snow was three to five inches deep. Below and near treeline, the snow was light and unconsolidated and barely covers old pockmarks, rocks, and bushes. The old snowpack below is firm and icy. Above treeline, productive westerly winds were actively loading east and N-NE-E facing terrain.  Minor blocking and cracking were observed along the ridgeline on easterly facing test slopes.  I triggered a small wind slab avalanche below a cornice near the top of Powder Bowl. This slide (SS, AC/c, R1D1) failed on a density change 6 inches down and propagated to approximately 10 feet wide and ran 20 feet downslope.  This avalanche was relatively small and inconsequential, but it was big enough to sweep an unaware skier off their feet.