Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Bunkhouse BillyObservation Date:
January 23, 2021Submitted:
January 23, 2021Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Tatoosh - castle environsTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5400Aspect:
SComments:
small moving wet loose originated at a convex rollover; ran approximately 100-150 feet and entraining all new snow above the crust. (2-3 inches).Photo:
Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few treesElevation:
Near and above treelineAspect:
SComments:
SW-SE aspects had many large debris piles, likely from the big AR event a few weeks ago. Some visible crowns were 1-2 ft thick. We also observed several significant glide avalanches or cracksPhoto:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Traveled on north and south aspects from 4900 to 6500. North aspects held 1-4" of very low density cold snow, with significant surface hoar developing especially in open areas. South aspects held a similar amount of snow, but it got fairly wet from solar input throughout the day, and had begun to refreeze later in the day when clouds rolled in. Travel conditions were tricky on steep slopes, and ski crampons were useful. The best turns of the day were on lower angled, sheltered north slopes.
As mentioned above, significant evidence of the large avalanche cycle on the south side of the tatoosh range, with several D2-3 avalanches that ran 1000+ feet, some with large crowns. Glide cracks were also evident. by around 3 pm, clouds were starting to obscure the top of castle and pinnacle peak.
Media
