Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Phil FortierObservation Date:
February 23, 2022Submitted:
February 23, 2022Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Chair Peak north slope, and environsObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5100Aspect:
NWComments:
Rolls on the north slope of Chair were releasing where wind had deposited snow overnight. Could be dangerous if the terrain was right (or wrong).Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Skied the north slope of Chair to Snow Lake. Still enjoyable skiing, but much more wind-affected and touchy than the day before (looks like there were strong winds overnight, but they were calm today). Small slabs were releasing on rollovers, otherwise no significant instability noted.
Skied a few laps in the Rock Creek drainage. At the bottom of the first run we heard a loud roaring sound, and saw a torrent of what appeared to be mostly water cascading over a cliffband. It lasted for several minutes, launched several boulders into the air, and left a stain on the snow slope below. We couldn't see a source for the avalanche, so we surmise it must have been some kind of dammed water that burst - it looked like the drainage it came down was the snow lake outlet.
Media
