Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Josh PObservation Date:
January 13, 2021Submitted:
January 13, 2021Zone or Region:
OlympicsActivity:
Walking/HikingLocation:
Mt TownsendObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5000’Aspect:
SWComments:
After reading on WTA that a snowshoer 3 days ago triggered a small avalanche I crossed a debris field in the path of the switchbacks. There was as a sizable amount of debris in a small runout (25 feet across). Much of the snow was collapsing when walked on. No shooting cracks were spotted, merely several woomfing steps. There was several aspects with a large amount of wind loading. Pictures provided from the summit and camp windy show this wind loading.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
NoDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
The fresh layer from the night of 1/12 seemed to be rounding on the top I a loose layer about 1/2 inch in depth. This top layer provided a small amount of purchase but with full weight collapsed in an isolated pocket. None of this seemed to cause shooting cracks. The avalanche danger seemed most present in the the stretch between switchbacks so I cut up the sides of the switch back while staying in the trees and out of an avalanche path.
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