Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Joey CObservation Date:
April 12, 2023Submitted:
April 13, 2023Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Baker BackcountryObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
Near Tree LineAspect:
NComments:
A large wet loose slide was initiated by a small windslab pocket releasing from the entry point in a steep gully in Blueberry Chutes area. This was at about 10am.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
We arrived at Heather Meadows parking lot at about 8:15am and observed the sun already causing significant dripping and tree bombing from the trees. The sun was high enough that virtually all aspects except the steepest north aspects received significant solar affect by 10am. Human triggered and natural wet loose avalanches were many from when we arrived and increased through our day. The cold snow we had expected to encounter on NW through NE aspects was already becoming saturated as early as 10am. Some skiers triggered windslab avalanches in the entrances to NW-NE gullies. These windslabs then entrained more snow below becoming wet loose avalanches ranging in size from D1 - D2. We saw skiers trigger a wet loose avalanches that ran over a bench and down a steep treed/cliff area - luckily they were not carried through this terrain.
Because of the observed instability we decided to engage lower angle terrain in the Grandmas area and soak up the strong spring sun and views instead of targeting any steeper objectives. We left the backcountry by 2pm, along with the majority of other users.
Today we had the opportunity to observe how much more powerful the spring sun is than our typical low-angle winter sunshine.