Observation: NWAC Forecaster

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 5, 2023
Submitted:
February 5, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Forecaster - Irene Henninger
Zone or Region:
Stevens Pass
Location:
Stevens Pass (4000-5500’ all aspects )

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Small amounts of sluffing on steep slopes in the lower density surface snow.
A north facing pit with incrementally harder snow until just above the MLK crust, where a rounding layer of facets was present. A similar layer was noted beneath the crust as well.
A south facing pit had much more substantial crusts near the surface than the nearby north-facing pit.
A thin layer of rounding facets and surface hoar above the MLK crust.
North facing, 5200ft pit ECT had no result.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Overcast
Temperature:
30°F
Wind:
Light
New/Recent Snowfall:
Incremental loads totaling 15cm since 2/3

Started snowing at about 10am. About an inch fell over the next 4 hours. The last few days' storm layer was slightly heavy powder. Minimal wind transport where we traveled.

Snowpack Observations

Overall I didn't notice wind-affect where I traveled, and got good skiing in medium-density right side up powder. A crust was noticed on southerly aspects beneath the new snow, whereas you couldn't feel a crust on north-facing terrain above ~5000ft. Steep rollovers produced shallow sluffs. No cracking or other signs of instabilities were seen.

I dug two pits on opposing slopes off of Piss Point. The north-facing pit had 50cm of right-side-up snow over the MLK crust. There were barely discernable rounding facets just above and below the crust (see photo). Pit tests did not yield concerning results on the layer (ECTX, PST 100/100). The south-facing pit had a stout melt-freeze crust just beneath the new snow, with harder layers and an additional crust not far beneath the first crust.

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