Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Dallas GlassObservation Date:
February 23, 2021Submitted:
February 23, 2021Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
White Pass BackcountryTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6300Aspect:
NEComments:
We intentionally triggered two avalanches in the Gunsight area with small cornice drops. Both slides were 18" deep. One was very localized, 25' wide. The other was much wider 60-80'. These seemed to fail on a storm snow layer.Photo:
Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
6300Aspect:
NEComments:
The main paths on Gunsight appear to have naturally avalanched within the last 24hrs. The debris had ~8" of new snow covering it. This slide was relatively wide (several hundred feet) and ran onto the main bench below the paths but did not reach the knobs where the skin track normally travels. Sections of the crown were still visible. Unfortunately all my attempts at a photo failed.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Terrain: Due to the stormy weather and recent heavy loading event we traveled very conservatively today. We primarily traveled on ridge lines peering into avalanche terrain and took a very low angle ram down into Miriam Creek.
Visibility and stormy weather severely limited our ability to make observations.
Snowpack: About 24" (60cm) of soft snow on the surface over the firmer snow from the atmospheric river event. Looks like the rain line reach up to about 5800' for at least a brief period. ice sickles were found in the trees at that elevation. The 2/11 crust was down about 6-7' (190-220cm) and the mid-January crust was down 8-9' (230-250cm) at 6000'. No tests were performed on these layers today.
The strong west winds were easily transporting snow and large overhung cornices were found on many ridgelines.
Weather: Obscured skies in the morning with light to moderate (S1-S2) snowfall. Strong West winds with moderate to intense blowing snow.
Media
