Observation: NWAC Observer

All Observations

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
April 4, 2023
Submitted:
April 4, 2023
Observer:
NWAC Observer - Willie Webster
Zone or Region:
East North
Location:
WA Pass to Harts Pass (all aspects 3000' to 8000' )

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Media/Attachments

Silver Star avalanche path
Crown on a NNE aspect of Silver Star Mountain
Glide avalanche release on the South aspect of Hinkhouse hear the highway overlook.
Cornices near Blue Lake and Stiletto Peak
The cornice off Blue Lake Peak is impressive
The Needles
More prominent wind effect is seen near Harts Pass. Slate Peak lookout
Cornices on the ridge above Blue Lake
Numerous wet loose debris piles are seen below 5000'. End of Handcock Ridge.
Wet Loose debris in Trout Creek area
Snowmobile tracks near Harts Pass
Hancock Ridge in foreground. Looking down Straight Ridge to Tower Mountain.
Copper Mountain
Goat Peak lookout
Jack Mountain, i think, seen from the east
Copper Mountain from Liberty Bell
Tower mountain and Golden Horn

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
38 - 16°F
Wind:
Calm
New/Recent Snowfall:
Light dusting from April 1sr

Calm and clear today. Temps in the Valley were in the high 30s. At 8000' near WA pass temps were 19 degrees. Above Slate Peak we got a low of 16 degrees. Great visibility today.

Avalanche Observations

 #  Date Location Size Type Bed Sfc Depth Trigger Photos Details
1 Mar 14, 2023
() 		Silver Star Mountain
N 7800ft 		D2.5
R2 		HS-Hard Slab I-New/Old Interface N-Natural
Silver Star avalanche path
Crown on a NNE aspect of Silver Star Mountain
Report
Silver Star Mountain

The observed avalanche from Silver Star Mountain is fairly old. It probably released around the 14th of March when those other large slides occurred off of Kangaroo.

Snowpack Observations

We flew over the Washington Pass zone and Harts Pass zone to gather some observation. We got to see a couple hundred square miles of the North Cascades peering into the Sawtooths, the Pasayten, and the North Cascades National Park. Below about 4500' there have been numerous wet loose avalanches which occured mostly around March 22nd and again around the 29th. Higher up there is a nice 6" dusting of new snow from April 1st. I can't speak to the sensitivity of any lingering wind slabs up high, but we did not see signs of any recent natural wind slabs. We did observe an older deep avalanche off Silver Star Mountain. This was probably from mid March. See above. We also spotted a glide avalanche which released on granite slab on the south side of Hinkhouse, not too far from the highway overlook. There are a number of similar granite slabs along this slope as it heads West. There are some large cornices out there. I didn't see signs of any that have fallen. The one above Blue Lake Col is quite large.

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