Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Jean RuggieroObservation Date:
March 29, 2023Submitted:
March 30, 2023Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Kaleetan via E Face, Granite Mtn West BowlSigns of Unstable Snow
Observations
Yesterday we traversed from the Alpental parking lot to the Granite Mtn trailhead. Route: Bryant Col via Great Scott Bowl -> Kaleetan via E face, descent via S face to Pratt River -> Granite Mtn via Tuscohatchie Lakes & NE ridge, descent via West Bowl.
We experienced a wide variety of snow conditions including isolated wind slabs up high and spring snow conditions down low. In areas with wind slab, a melt-freeze crust was present and was relatively firm. Above treeline, those slopes and areas without wind slabs consisted of supportable moist (but still firm, not too punchy) springtime snow excellent for kicking steps. The West Bowl of Granite was wind-scoured and frozen solid above 4500 ft by the time we skied down at dusk. Below 4500 ft, the bowl and drainage below held breakable crust.
Other conditions notes: Throughout the whole traverse, streams below 4500 ft were consistently open and snow was wet and heavy by the afternoon. The snow line on the south side of Granite is around 3500-3000ft. Large cornices still guard the top of the Kaleetan high & low chutes. The summit of Granite is also heavily corniced but you can avoid exposure to them by sticking to the ridges. We brought crampons for the steep sections but did not need to use them.