Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Jeff BarnaObservation Date:
March 5, 2022Submitted:
March 5, 2022Zone or Region:
Mt HoodActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Castle CragsObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
9700Aspect:
SEComments:
Observed between 130 and 2 PM after skiing down from illumination rock. Observation made from above Mississippi head where it was noticed that a slide had taken place since descending. The slide itself was a wet loose that doglegged from the south east facing slope down to the west, where it was near climbers observed in the area. There was fresh snow all around and the day had warmed. Although the avalanche was not examined directly, it appeared that the wet loose slide had released from above and ran down several hundred feet at a minimum. There were numerous climbers and skiers in the area.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Fresh snow was everywhere on Mount Hood, from Government Camp to illumination saddle where we ended our climb. At times when the clouds parted it became quite warm until we got to below illumination rock and the wind picked up. The goal was to get up to the rock and down before mid afternoon to minimize exposure to loose that was coming down from the melting fresh snow on the rocks above. Although we did not dig any test pits, we monitored the snow the entire climb and noticed a band from tree line to about 8000 feet that had variable conditions. Above and in below that, the snow was predictable and even in texture in coverage. The warming temperatures of the day coupled with the broad extent of snow coverage on the rock at the top of Mount Hood, are likely the cause of the slide that was observed.
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