Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
March 16, 2022
Submitted:
March 16, 2022
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Lee Lazzara
Zone or Region:
West North
Location:
Iceberg Lake (4200' > 5500' all aspects)

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Natural loose wet avalanche activity on the the south face of Mazama Dome at 11:30am - 5300'.
Two natural slab avalanches on Lasiocarpa near Coleman Pinnacle. Suspected of naturally triggering with rampid warming Wednesday morning. Wet loose in the surrounding terrain may have triggered the lower avalanche. East aspect at ~6000'.
Rollervballs and small wet loose in Hermnan Gulch.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Cloudy
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
60cm HST in wind sheltered terrain. 30-120cm in scoured/loaded areas

Varied between broken and obscured through the morning- lots of greenhousing and direct solar, calm. Convective snow showers around noon.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
2 Mar 16, 2022 10:00 am
() 		Lasiocarpa Ridge
E 6200ft 		D2.5 SS-Soft Slab O-Old Snow 3.5ft N-Natural
Two natural slab avalanches on Lasiocarpa near Coleman Pinnacle. Suspected of naturally triggering with rampid warming Wednesday morning. Wet loose in the surrounding terrain may have triggered the lower avalanche. East aspect at ~6000'.
Report
Lasiocarpa Ridge

Many wet loose on solar aspects starting mid-morning to D2. Reports of wet loose activity moving to shaded aspects around 1pm. 2x very large slab avalanches ATL near Coleman Pinnacle (photo, avy ob). Crowns looked very fresh and sharp from a distance. Naturally triggered with warming and wet loose from above . . . . very large avalanches reported from Shuksan Arm as well with control work.

Snowpack Observations

60cm of right side up HST. Sitting on 2-3cm crust on solar aspects, informal testing showed good bonding on unsupported test slopes prior to warming. Shaded slopes HST sits on thin, weak temp crust from 3/13 with a wind slab and then 1F faceted layer below to Early March Crust. CT's showed plenty of sudden results in HST layers but no propagation with ECT. Faceted layer above EMC CTM-RP/B's. Avalanche activity points towards a better developed faceted layer ATL terrain above EMC.

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