Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Steven Gnam
Observation Date:
January 7, 2022
Submitted:
January 7, 2022
Zone or Region:
East Central
Activity:
Other
Location:
Nahahum Canyon, Cashmere, WA

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
2,200ft
Aspect:
W
Comments:
Jan 6th, I walked up a road on our property to check the snowpack and heard whooping as the storm slab settled. On a steeper section of the road cut, I was able to remotely trigger a small slide that propagated out 40 yards (photo attached). Confirmation that it was not a good day to be skiing in the foothills.

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
~4,500 feet
Aspect:
SW
Comments:
Today, Jan 7th, a few new avalanches are visible on the SW aspect of Burch Mountain around the 4,500-4,800 feet elevation range. They appear to be a mix of wet loose and slab avalanches with a couple running all the way to the ground. I took some pictures of these with a telephoto lens (attached).

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Widespread

Observations

From Jan 5th-6th we received about 30" of new snow at 2,200 feet.

Media

Jan 6th, remotely triggered storm slab on road cut. 2,200 feet. Nahahum Canyon, Cashmere.
Jan 7th avalanche on SW aspect of Burch Mountain. ~4,800 feet
Jan 7th avalanche on SW aspect of Burch Mountain. ~4,500 feet
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