Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Jeni ChanObservation Date:
March 21, 2022Submitted:
March 22, 2022Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Anderson Buttes/Watson LakesTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5000'Aspect:
NWComments:
Skier triggered an intentional wet slide to test the slope before descending after finding finding no propagation in a test pit. We triggered the top 30 cm of snow which had a runout of 100-150 feet. Estimated slope angle was 30-35 degrees. Air temperature around 41 degrees. Snow was not wind-affected.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6000'Aspect:
SComments:
Point releases. Consistent tree-bombing throughout the day that, though harmless, were clear signs of a warming day.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Party of three dug a snow pit on a north-facing wide-open 35 degrees slope before descending. We found the first 15-30 cm reactive but with no propagation. Our travel up was mired with tree-bombing and point releases on all aspects. Our mutual decision was to carefully ski down, mindful of our sluff. First skier intentionally triggered a D2 wet slide with a runout of 100-150'. We saw evidence of recent wet loose activity in all chutes above the lake of similar magnitudes. Air temperature at noon was already 41 degrees and increases slightly throughout the day but we did not trigger any more slides after choosing mellower terrain.
The snow conditions were warm, wet, heavy, sticky.
Media
