Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Josh HObservation Date:
February 24, 2022Submitted:
February 24, 2022Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Chair Peak BasinObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
~5,600 feetAspect:
EComments:
Two avalanches today, one over the skin / ski tracks of a skier we talked to just an hour before we got to the spot. So they must have just occurred, likely around 1-2pm. At this location there was very little if any crust, just powder from last weekend and 2-3 inches of fresh snow from last night. The smaller avalanche seems to have started from rock or snow falling from Chair Peak, near the upper notch to the North Shoulder of Chair Peak, and fanned out going maybe 100 feet. The second larger avalanche was SW and at a higher elevation at about 5,600-5,800 feet, although we couldn't see the start zone. Neither seems to be human triggered. Sun was not out.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Nice day in the Chair Peak Basin, with an intermittent crust about 3 inches beneath the surface, and more prevalent at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes. The east-facing slope we skied, from about 5,400 to 4,800 feet, had no discernible crust. But then a strong crust emerged as we skied SE further down in elevation. Traversing to E and NE slopes, the crust diminished. We saw signs of roller balls on south slopes from yesterday or the day before. We saw evidence of two recent small dry loose avalanches from today further up at the very base of Chair Peak, about 5,600 feet in elevation. The fresh snow above the crust sluffed quite easily on steeper slopes, although we didn't have time to dig a proper pit.
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