Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Andrew E GoodwinObservation Date:
November 20, 2020Submitted:
November 22, 2020Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
XC Skiing/SnowshoeingLocation:
Mt St Helens, Worm Flows Climbing RouteObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
3,200-5,000'Aspect:
SWComments:
Loose wet avalanches on steep W/SW aspects in the afternoon sun. At 3,200' there were roller balls up to 3' in diameter. The avalanches did not propagate to any deeper snow layers. The mountain had 2-4' of snow in these altitudes. All of it soft and wet with no rime ice. Above 6,000' ridges are wind-scoured and rime-iced and valley snow was much firmer wind-transported snow.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Upper reaches of the mountain now have 2 deep snow layers. On steep slopes I stayed on ridges that still had exposed rock and avoided the wind-slab that was predominant on the E/SE side of the ridges.
Media
