Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
WRObservation Date:
February 26, 2022Submitted:
February 26, 2022Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
North slopes b/t 3200-5000; South side of I-90Triggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
4100Aspect:
NComments:
Max depth 2-3"; Width 30' Ran approx 50' Slope angle high 30s.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
In open areas, winds from the east/southeast were quite strong throughout our tour. Although we did not observe active wind transport, we found an isolated area of 2-4" wind slab on the approach up roaring ridge. We were able to produce 2-3' cracks when actively loading (jumping), but it likely wasn't steep enough to slide. This should have been more of a red flag to us as we proceeded. We were traversing west on a steep north slope (likely high 30 degrees) when I triggered a shallow windslab which broke above me with a max depth of approx 3". I was not carried. The slope further west appeared to contain an even stiffer/deeper slab potentially up to 6", so we retreated. Throughout the day we continued to notice wind-textured snow on north slopes, but did not trigger any more avalanches.
Separately, we noticed widespread large surface hoar throughout the day on open slopes. On solar aspects, this surface hoar was on top of a 2" thick melt-freeze crust, which also appeared to have weak sugar-like facets underneath it.
Sheltered, non-wind affected slopes still held good quality snow.
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