Observation: Public

Observation Details

Observed Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Coalman Glacier, climbers left of Hogsback. Plenty of other rime/rock shedding in the surrounding area, varied suntouched aspects. Saw a couple large chunk/missles come off Crater Rock and tumble south down main climbers approach (scarier for people descending not looking that way). Also heard/saw some shedding high off west and east facing high rock walls. Earlier on heard second hand reports of large shedding in Old Chute (my climb) but while there saw/heard nothing larger than a few fist sized snow/rime chunks and noted a few previously fallen fist sized rocks laying in the snow, nor saw any major snow disturbances (beyond the point release) that I have previously seen accompany larger shedding, roller balls, rock rockets, etc. Granted, my late-in-the-day ascent may have missed earlier prime time action (esp since clouds began to filter the sun later in the day. I did get a first hand report warning about it and was careful to be monitoring for it every dozen or so steps on the climb and encountered nothing. That said, also heard earlier in the day that someone was warning people off climbs unnecessarily and heard of multiple people talk about shedding risk in Pearly Gates. Lots of hearsay of which I’m sure some was of legitimate concern. As for myself on my late climb, saw a few items but nothing resembling shooting galleries I’ve encountered previously. In pics, one shows the “natural” point release. Another shows a fast skier very much not triggering loose wet as well as the surrounding seemingly undisturbed snow of the Old Chute (or Mazama Chute?) climb/apron. As I utilized previously heavily laid tracks (some very well worn esp leading up to Crater Rock), hard to give an impression of the snow otherwise. Def no cracking oe whumping. Lots of glopping tho given my 9:45 Timberline “alpine” start and shed my upper base layer even earlier than the rock/rime shedding I noticed. Evening headlamp ski down was surprisngly quite nice after a hot, snow softening day (albeit intentionally aimed for snow that saw very last bit of daylight).