Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
PNW SkierObservation Date:
March 5, 2022Submitted:
March 5, 2022Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
South Side of Mt St HelensTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
Crown was near 5400' in elevationAspect:
SEComments:
2nd skier triggered a wet slab avalanche. This happened at about 1:00pm. Crown was approximately 150 ft wide. Ranged from a depth of 4" to 18". Start zone debris was quickly focused into valley and ran some distance. Starting near an elevation of 5400' and ran to about 4750'. The slab avalanche was set off on the far lookers left side of the bed surface. Slope angle near 35 degrees where skier initiated. Gut of that slope is steeper. Skier originally was knocked down by the avalanche, but was able to stand up and ride about 20' off the slide. Debris was slow moving. 1st Skier was positioned out of the way. Third skier was on top.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few treesElevation:
Started near the top of the mountain and ran a long waysAspect:
SComments:
The observable avalanches were large ones released during the atmospheric event at the beginning of the week. Fresh snow had blown into the existing debris, showing the piles were a few days old.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
It transitioned from dryer snow to wetter snow near the start zone of the avalanche.
Media
