Observation: Public

Name:

Andy Goodwin

Observation Date:

March 5, 2022

Submitted:

March 5, 2022

Zone or Region:

West South

Activity:

Walking/Hiking

Location:

Mt St Helens Worm Flows Climbing Route

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Wet Slab

Size:

Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few trees

Elevation:

Crown 7600-8100' Ran to 4500'

Aspect:

SE

Comments:

Probably ran during heavy rains early this week. The Crown ran along the east aspect of Monitor Ridge between 7650 and 8100' feet. The avalanche traveled east then south down the canyon on the east side of the climbing route. It ran all the way to 4200'. In narrow places in the canyon debris was more than 25' deep. The crown height was just 6-15", but it ran so far (1.75 miles) that it picked up a tremendous amount or snow.

None reported

The debris trail had some rime ice and snow that indicates that the avalanche ran several days ago. There has been nobody on the mountain this week so there are no earlier observations.

Debris in the canyon on the east side of the climbing route at about 4800'. The larger pile of snow is at least 25 feet high.