Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Sam Luthy
Observation Date:
February 26, 2021
Submitted:
February 26, 2021
Zone or Region:
Olympics
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Hurricane Ridge- Maggies

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
5200
Aspect:
SE
Comments:
A buried crown low on lookers left of maggies face. Small but steep roll over here and lots of cross loading visible on adjacent slopes.

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
No

Observations

Wind is once again playing its dominant role at Hurricane Ridge. In the past 2 days strong winds out of the WNW have transported a lot of snow and built large windslabs on E and SE faces. Due to the strength of these winds and terrain effects you could find a windslab on almost any aspect. Large wind fins have formed along ridglines where the snow is blowing thru gaps in the trees. And slopes parallel to the wind direction have significant crossloading on them. Outside of sheltered trees there are few slopes that the wind has not effected in some manner.

Media

For the first time this season, the rocks on top of Maggies face are covered. Wind loading is the reason.
Crossloaded slope on the Maggies approach.
Navigating Wind Fins and newly loaded areas along the top of Maggies face

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
E thru SE aspects, D2+, likely, 30cm and larger
With mod to strong winds for the past two days wind slabs can be on any aspect below ridgelines. Focus especially on E to SE faces which are the lee slopes to the WNW winds that HR has been experiencing.
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