Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 23, 2022
Submitted:
January 23, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger
Zone or Region:
West Central
Location:
Mountain Loop Highway - south side (All aspects, 1600-2300ft)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

Sperry peak and glide cracks and avalanches.
Morning Star Peak. A climax avalanche (D2.5?) is just visible in the bottom left, crossing over the summer/accesstrail.
Large, needlelike surface hoar seen coating all open areas in the valley bottom along the Mountain Loop Highway (approx 2000ft)

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
32°F
Wind:
Calm

Warm in sunlight (40s) but stayed around freezing in the valley bottom, in shaded areas where I spent most of my time.

Several large old avalanches were visible on surrounding higher peaks, including one climax avalanche on Morning Star Peak, just barely visible in the photo running over the hiking/access trail. A few glide cracks/avalanches were visible on Sperry Peak's obvious rock faces as well.

Snowpack Observations

The snowpack remained locked up today in areas that I traveled, except on steep, exposed south facing slopes, where a few inches of the surface softened but remained supportable on foot. I found supportable knife-hard crusts 4 inches+, with moist, loose melt forms beneath that layer. The snow base was 2-3 feet deep where I travelled. Along the road (at the bottom of the valley) I found large, needlelike surface hoar present in all open areas (1800-2000ft). It is unknown how widespread the layer is.

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