Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 1, 2022
Submitted:
March 1, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Andy Harrington
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Location:
Alpental Valley

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
Yes
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Media/Attachments

The creek from Source Lake looked dirty
Chair Peak/Bryant Peak debris
Rain runnels/rills showing that the snowpack is draining well.
Chair/Bryant Peak avalanche hit the lake and rolled up the knob on the other side. A popular lunch spot.
This is the second year in a row to the date this terrain has produced a very large avalanche.
Waterfalls, creeks, and rivers were gushing
Shallow Wet Slab crowns were spotted throughout the Alpental Valley on 3/1. These often mixed with other wet avalanche debris, such as loose.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

It was still raining this morning at the pass, mostly light, but moderate at times. Absolutely pouring in North Bend.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Chair Peak
S 5900ft 		D3 WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
This is the second year in a row to the date this terrain has produced a very large avalanche.
Chair/Bryant Peak avalanche hit the lake and rolled up the knob on the other side. A popular lunch spot.
Chair Peak/Bryant Peak debris
The creek from Source Lake looked dirty
Crowns at the base of rocks connecting terrain features on Chair Peak.
Widely spanning crown lines on the south shoulder of Chair Peak.
Report
Chair Peak

This was the 2nd year in a row to the day we have found a very large avalanche that hit Source Lake. Debris piles came from both Chair and Bryant Peaks and made it across the lake and halfway up the knob. On the eastern end of the knob, it almost made it over. The creek running out of Source Lake is very dirty and looks like maybe there was some sort of blow out?

Plenty of other avalanches were spotted in the valley. To name a few: Crowns and debris in Shot 8, large debris piles under the Mushroom Cliffs, and an uncountable number of Loose Wet debris piles.
Some of the debris piles looked fresher than others and could have been last night/this morning.

Snowpack Observations

Still really wet and soggy out there. The snowpack seems to be draining very well at lower elevations. Waterfalls and streams are booming, runnels/rills are well defined, boot pen is knee to hip deep in places. The snow is wet and heavy and you'd probably have a hard time triggering an avalanche. That said, if one gets moving via cornice drop or some other large natural phenomenon, it's probably going to grow large and not stop with this type of snow.

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