Observation: Avalanche Professional

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 9, 2022
Submitted:
March 9, 2022
Observer:
Avalanche Professional - NPS Rainier Rangers AB
Zone or Region:
West South
Location:
Panorama Point, Marmot Hill, Alta Vista (5400-6900)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Loose Dry slides off of steep terrain around Panorama Point
Drifting on Marmot hill, scouring on the S side of the ridgetop.
Drifting on the NW side of ridges above Panorama Pt
Blowing snow at the top of Panorama Point on SE winds

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
20°F
Wind:
Moderate , SE
New/Recent Snowfall:
3.5" HN24 and HS 135 at Paradise Snow Study

Overcast to broken cloud cover with light to moderate winds out of E-SE, increasing speed with elevation. The day stayed cool and dry.

Numerous small loose dry slides around steep, cliffy terrain.

Snowpack Observations

Touring around, the new snow depth was 4-8" deep in spots, dry and low density with very little cohesion in the storm snow. There is a firm supportable crust under the new snow. Ski pen and boot pen were both supported on this crust 4-8" down.

E-SE winds have drifted snow into atypical locations on W-N side of features, some of the new drifts were 2-3' thick. Isolated cracking was observed in these drifts, breaking 1-2 feet out from my skis at most. Wind-snow transport is was moderate, and there was plenty of dry snow to move.

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