Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Enji CooperObservation Date:
January 21, 2022Submitted:
January 21, 2022Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
XC Skiing/SnowshoeingLocation:
Lanham Lake/Jim Hill MountainTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6.1k’Aspect:
NComments:
Triggered a small wind slab break when doing a snowshoe cut walking up the ridge. The slab was 2 separate storm/wind slabs sandwiched together by a rain crust that was a fraction of an inch.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5.6k’Aspect:
EComments:
Obvious wet loose on north portion of ridge on a sun-exposed E face.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
Snow under trees was very unsupportive, in particular in afternoon; we’re punching down 3”-6” periodically, once we compromised the rain crust.
No major issues of concern on the way up to the ridge from Lanham Lake, but we played it a bit safe by staying close to terrain anchors (trees, etc). The snow was about 3” of storm snow on top of a rain crust on top of wet loose snow. That being said, there was some wind texturing down below the saddle.
As we got closer to the ridge, we found snow that resembled wind slabs/fetch, and evidence that the wind had been batting around the snow from E to W: satrugi, wind transport near the knob, and some wavy snow that looked like it was trying to turn into cornices; the overhangs were on the E side of the ridge, which is consistent with the recent W wind forecast. The snow along the ridge was variable depth: ice with little to no penetration at one end of the spectrum (great for snowshoeing), with multi foot deep Jersey Cream wind fetch in lee areas.
We did not go past 6.2k’ due to concerns over time and safety; the standard route up to the summit passes under exposed slopes which were all untouched.
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