Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
December 1, 2022
Submitted:
December 1, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
West South
Location:
Hogback Mt./ White Pass Backcountry (All Aspects Near and Below Treeling)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
Isolated
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Snowprofile from the White Pass backcountry.
Rime and wind drifts can help you anticipate wind loaded slopes.
Cornices, drifts, and rime all indicate wind loading in this terrain.
Uptrack test, like this, are a great way to look for storm slabs in the surface snow

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Wind:
Light , W
New/Recent Snowfall:
Over night snow (HN12): about 4-6in, New snow (HN24) about 12in, storm total (HST) 30in

Cold day with frequent passing showers. Most of these were light, but occasionally a heavier band would add a quick inch of snow.

I found several old debris piles from Wednesday in the Gunsight Chutes and 3rd bowl. These appeared to be storm slabs (D1.5-2). The crowns and debris were covered with new snow.
Today I intentionally triggered a few loose dry avalanches, but they were small and unremarkable.

Snowpack Observations

DEEP! The upper snowpack consists of about a meter of storm snow. While subtle layers were found they did not fail repeatably in snowpack tests. However, up-track tests and small slopes did produce isolated cracking. These small slabs seemed to be failing on a density break in the storm snow about a foot below the surface. However, this layer did not produce any avalanches during our travels.

Snow depths (HS) ranged from 5-6 ft (160-190cm) in the near treeline band.

Signs of wind transport (cornices, rime, drifts) were prevalent along ridges. The majority of the loading occurred on N-SE aspects. However, similar to the storm snow, test slopes and small cornice cuts did not produce any avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
None Specified
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