Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

As I'm new to this region, I'm not very familiar with glide avalanches. From an earlier observation about a glide crack in the Devil's Kitchen area and my observations there yesterday, my hunch is pic #1 is that crack. If so, not sure how much of an avy hazard it is given its close proximity to a flat run-out zone, but definitely at least a travel hazard. Regarding other conditions/hazards:

Ski tour from Government Camp (Skiway) at 8am to Mount Hood summit at 5pm by way of Devil's Kitchen to Old Chute with a return ski from Mazamas Chute to Upper Zigzag, back to uphill track and down to trailhead at 7pm.

Will allow annotated pictures speak for themselves about surface conditions, but generally speaking a major improvement over the rough riding and "slide for life" of two weeks ago. Grain of salt being that Sunday was very warm, full sun and calm winds all day and my travel time was later (and hence softer) than most..though boot crampons still seemed most efficient means of travel above Palmer Lift. As for overhead hazards, heard some shedding and saw one large rock tumble off west facing wall above Devil's Kitchen around 3:30pm and got nailed by one pinball-sized piece of ice while ascending apron toward Old Chute around 4pm. Saw and heard nothing else other than tiny ice bits and pieces sliding by my feet here and there and caused some tiny ice bits and pieces from my post-sunset/re-hardened turns when departing skiers right of Crater Rock around 6pmish. Finally a special note about a different type of hazard: I pre-hydrated with about a liter of water, packed 2+ liter bladder, a 3/4 liter bottle, refilled same 3/4 liter bottle at Timberline and STILL had less than quarter liter in my bladder when I returned to the trailhead. Until this sweat-fest of a trip, had figured Devil's Kitchen was so named for its fumarole...