Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Lots of folks were out on the mountain yesterday. We got a late start due to parking logistics issues, but despite that the snow was stable for the climb. The descent was risky though below treeline as we were traveling across some avalanche terrain and were postholing 1’+ in large faceting snow between the trees (resembled sugar snow). I directed the group to avoid large open slopes (suspected talus/boulder fields), and instead head to treed areas along the ridge for safety. One of the sections we went across one at a time since it was an obvious avy chute with an old collapsed cornice in the chute.
The road was punchy on the way out in the late evening, so we stuck to the established boot track (the old snowshoe tracks were extremely stable when wearing microspikes).
Apart from wind swept snow in leeward areas near treeline, refreeze crust/wet loose in sun exposed areas on all aspects, cornices and some old glide cracks around them, I didn’t spot any glaring instability concerns, but we played it safe and picked lower angle ridges following old tracks. We took a lower traverse on the way out from the saddle to avoid hitting North Chiwaukum summit twice, and apart from some wet loose corn snow type issues, it was a solid choice.
One climber (not in our party) accidentally slid downhill in the afternoon traversing the W slopes of North Chiwaukum, and was unable to self-arrest. He was stopped by a tree. The snow was consolidated enough to self-arrest in shaded areas around the summits, but was not safe to self-arrest in sun soaked areas.