Observation: Avalanche Professional
Basic Information
Observation Details
Observation Date:
March 19, 2022Submitted:
March 19, 2022Observer:
Avalanche Professional - Vetta Mountain GuidesZone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassLocation:
Pineapple Pass/Denny Trees (N, NW, SW S)Signs of Unstable Snow
Recent Avalanches?
YesCracking?
IsolatedCollapsing?
None ExperiencedMedia/Attachments
Advanced Information
Weather Summary
Cloud Cover:
OvercastTemperature:
31°FWind:
Light , SWNew/Recent Snowfall:
Light snow (S-1 and S1) throughout day with intense graupel event around 1 p.m., enough that pools formed in depressions. 1cm on ground at 0800 at valley bottom, several cm's by 1500.Overcast most of day, with one or two tiny glimpses of sun. Winds increasing throughout day and by 1500, moderate-strong winds in the alpine, L-M at treeline.
Evidence of sizeable loose-wets (up to sz 2) over last 48 hours. No slab avalanches observed. Spindrift/loose-dry coming off The Tooth and Chair Peak during day, sz 1.
Snowpack Observations
Moist snow up to approx 4K, with crust underneath HST. Crust mostly supportive. Intense graupel (1-3mm, S1) event early afternoon, with pools of graupel forming in depressions on the snow surface. No wind slab yet at Pineapple Pass.
Dug on the upper pitches of Denny Trees (approx 5050'), HS 290cm, SW aspect, 35-degree slope, L-M SW wind, overcast sky, S-1 (1mm PPrm and PPgp).
ECTX, DTN, PST no result on 220308 crust down 70cm. (No results on several smaller crusts above the 3/8 crust.)
Visible intense blosno at times on Snoqualmie Mountain, The Tooth, and Chair Peak.
Avalanche Problems
| Problem | Location | Distribution | Sensitivity | Size | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wind Slab
|
|
Unknown |
Layer Depth/Date: 10-20cm Comments: Limited alpine obs during day but when we could see, intense blosno from W/SW winds, assume sz 1-2 possible by morning if wind event continues. |