Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Molly M MassenaObservation Date:
April 10, 2022Submitted:
April 10, 2022Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Behind Skyline ChairTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5400Aspect:
NComments:
Skiing untracked aspects of Cowboy ridge resulted in D1 dry loose avalanches with 10-15cm crowns. Debris was very light and non-destructive.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5400Aspect:
NComments:
Saw numerous natural dry loose avalanches throughout the day. Skiing around steeper slopes created D1 dry loose avalanches with 10-15cm crowns. Debris was very light and non-destructive.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Dug a pit just behind Skyline Chair at Stevens Pass. Found 94 cm of right-side up snow sitting on top of a firmer MF layer with mixed MF layers below this until 138cm down, in which the snow turned to nicely packed small rounded grains.
Snowpack tests resulted in RP fractures within the storm snow. Extended column tests did not get results.
Skiing was surprisingly good with the right-side up snow structure.
Snow was fairly consistent until mid-afternoon when the sun started to come out around 14:30 with a slight warming that made the snow at pass level slightly heavier. However the higher elevations remained dry and light.
There were light winds up until 14:30, then the wind picked up slightly.
Overall very good skiing, but also sensitive top most layer of snow that resulted in numerous dry loose sluff avalanches.
Media
