Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 1, 2022
Submitted:
March 1, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Dallas Glass
Zone or Region:
West South
Location:
Crystal Backcountry: East Peak, Bullion Peak, Crown Pt, Morse Creek, Pickhandle Pt. (All aspects near and below treeline. (4300'-6450'))

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Runnels show the impact of the rain on the snowpack. These can be seen everywhere in the Crystal backcountry.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
35°F
Wind:
Light , SW
New/Recent Snowfall:
No new snow, just rain.

Periods of rain and snow in the morning. While some of it was falling in the frozen form (snow), it immediately melted on contact. Winds were generally light with occasional moderate gusts. No blowing snow. While you could feel the temperatures cooling, it was still well above freezing. Basically, it was a very wet morning for a tour.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Union Creek: Bluebell Pass
E 6200ft 		D1.5
R1 		WS-Wet Slab 0.5ft N-Natural
Even this small feature avalanched. 8" crown.
Looking down an avalanche path into Union Creek. This crown was very low in the start zone but reached "wall to wall". WS-N-R1-D1.5-I ; E-SE 6200'
Report
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Pickhandle Pt: Morse Creek
NE 6200ft 		D1.5
R1 		WS-Wet Slab I-New/Old Interface 1ft N-Natural
Natural wet slab avalanches on Pickhandle Pt running into Morse Creek. NE 6200'
Report
7 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Pickhandle Basin: W Face of Crown Pt and Pickhandle Gap
NW 6000ft 		D1.5
R1 		WS-Wet Slab 0.5ft N-Natural
A natural wet slab avalanche that ran into Pickhandle Basin. WS-N-R1-D1.5-I NW, 6000'
Looking down one of many natural avalanches that ran into Pickhandle Basin during the storm. NE, 5900'
Shallow wet slab crowns along the West Face of Crown Pt. running into Pickhandle Basin. These crowns were generally 8-12" deep. WNW 6200'
Report
6 Feb 28, 2022
() 		East Peak: SW Face
SW 5500ft 		D1
R1 		WS-Wet Slab 0.5ft N-Natural
Wet slab debris from a small avalanche on East Peak.
Small crowns can be seen from avalanches on steep convex rollovers on East Peak. WS-N-R1-D1-I 6-10" deep. SW 5600'
Debris from a small natural avalanche on East Peak. SW, 5700'
Report
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Pickhandle Pt: N Bowl
NW 6200ft 		D2.5
R2 		WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 2ft N-Natural
Looking up the derbis as some of the higher crowns on a large natural wet slab that failed on the N face of Pickhandle Pt.
Looking up the debris field of a large wet slab avalanche on the N face of Pickhandle Pt. You can see several sections of the crown. WS-N-R2-D2.5-O; N, 6100'.
A large debris pile from a natural wet slab avalanche on Pickhandle Pt. While the debris covered a large area, it was relatively shallow (2-4' deep).
Debris from an avalanche in Pickhandle Basin pushed snow 6-8' into the trees. You can see the dirty Valentine's Day crust was exposed in this area by the slide.
A lower crown from a large avalanche in Pickhandle Basin. This avalanche appeared to fail on the Valentine's Day crust. N 6100'
Report
2 Feb 28, 2022
() 		Bullion Pk: N Bowl
NW 6400ft 		D2
R2 		WS-Wet Slab N-Natural
Two large wet slanb avalanches in the N. Bowl of Bullion Peak (Blue Bell Peak). WS-N-R2-D2-O, NNW 6400'
Report
1 Feb 28, 2022
() 		E Face Crown Pt
E 6400ft 		D2
R2 		WS-Wet Slab O-Old Snow 1.5ft N-Natural
A crown profile on the E face of Crown Pt. This avalanche appears to have failed on the 2/19 crust. While it was obvious the rain had deteriorated this crown after the avalanche, this slide was at least 12-18" deep.
The north flank of a large natrual wet slab avalanche on the E face of Crown Pt. Notice the large chunk of missing cornice. Several pieces of cornice along the ridge had failed during the storm. This slide may have been naturally cornice triggered.
The extent of the crown along the E face of Crown Pt. WS-N-R2-D2-O, ENE 6400', 12-18" deep. Ran about 750 vertical feet.
Looking down from th crown of the avalanche into Union Creek. This slide descended about 750'.
Report
Union Creek: Bluebell Pass
Pickhandle Pt: Morse Creek
Pickhandle Basin: W Face of Crown Pt and Pickhandle Gap
East Peak: SW Face
Pickhandle Pt: N Bowl
Bullion Pk: N Bowl
E Face Crown Pt

There was a natural wet slab avalanche cycle during this past atmospheric river event. I observed numerous small wet slabs and loose wet avalanches. These slides seemed to fail at or above the 2/26 interface (start of the storm). Some of the large paths in the area, produced D1.5-D2.5 avalanches on older snow layers.

Snowpack Observations

The upper snowpack consists of weak wet large-grained snow (moist to wet, melt forms). I consistently sank into the snow up to my knee and even thigh. While the upper snowpack is weak, it is draining well. Runnels on every slope show water is efficiently leaving the snowpack. On very steep (>40) test slopes, I triggered rollerballs, but they fell apart quickly as they rolled. I was not able to trigger any loose wet avalanches despite the deep wet surface snow.

When I dug into the snow, I did not find any obvious layers of pooling water. I could still find the 2/19 and Valentine's Day crusts, but they were much weaker and quickly breaking down amidst all the percolating water.

Above 6000', a weak surface crust was starting to form as temperatures began to drop.

Avalanche Problems

Problem Location Distribution Sensitivity Size Comments
Wet Slab
Isolated
Specific
Widespread
 Unknown
D1
D1.5
D2
D2.5
D3
D3.5
D4
D4.5
D5
 Weak Layer(s): Feb 13, 2022 (MFcr)
Comments: This could also include the 2/19 crust.

Wet slabs were still my greatest concern today. While trending towards unlikely, they shaped my terrain travel.

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