Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Enji Cooper
Observation Date:
March 16, 2021
Submitted:
March 17, 2021
Zone or Region:
Olympics
Activity:
Walking/Hiking
Location:
Mount Ellinor (winter chute)

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
Above treeline (at various points)
Aspect:
E
Comments:
Observed various D0.5/D1 west loose avalanches (old and occurring over the course of the day) along the winter chute up Ellinor yesterday.

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

* Cold in the morning: car got stuck high-centering over 4" deep snow; top 1.5" was a hard icy slab, whereas everything underneath was storm snow/powder (location was 47.5133, -123.2283).
* Lots of rollerballs (tennis ball sized) falling late morning/early afternoon.
* Snow was falling off the trees below treeline, resulting in slush.
* Quick hand-shear test identified surface level instability (diffused break) with a slab around 1.5" in depth.
* Cornices were on ridges mostly on northern/western aspects, but there was one on an eastern aspect (we could see) under the false summit (47.5216, -123.2577).
* Snow up chute was hard to penetrate with crampons; couldn't get much purchase late morning to early afternoon.

More details are found here: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2021-03-16-3933685420 .

Media

Wet loose debris/cornice overhang near 47.5216, -123.2577
Cornice overhang/potential broken crown west of Mt Ellinor summit
The last (third) section of avalanche chute later on in the morning (10:54)
Cornices/crowns on east/northern aspects towards Mt. Washington from the Mt. Ellinor summit

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Cornice
Comments: 
The north side of the ridge along the winter chute up Ellinor and above it to the summit was corniced with small overhangs (<3"). There was also a small cornice overhang on the east side on the final ridge near the summit.
Observed Avalanche Problem #2: 
Wet Loose
Comments: 
A lot of wet loose debris fell down the winter chute over the course of the day.
WordPress Lightbox