Observation: Public

Name:

Andy Goodwin

Observation Date:

April 24, 2022

Submitted:

April 25, 2022

Zone or Region:

West South

Activity:

Walking/Hiking

Location:

Mt St Helens Worm Flows Route

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

4800'

Aspect:

SE

Comments:

There were several significant loose wet avalanches in a narrow altitude band in mid -afternoon. All were on SE aspects. Several were triggered by skiers.

None reported

In the early morning Sunday, snow was frozen hard at all elevations. Bright sunshine softened slopes below 7500' by mid afternoon, but a 25 mph wind may have slowed snow warming above 7500. There were no signs that any avalanche activity occurred on Saturday 4/23. Descending from the rim between 2 and 4:30 PM on 4/24, I saw no avalanche activity above 5500', but there were a number of loose wet avalanches between 4500 and 5500'. The snow was wet and soft and boots on untraveled snow sank 8-12". I also saw an impressive roller ball greater than 3 feet in diameter.

I number of skiers and climbers that I spoke to had seen the avalanche activity and were avoiding potential terrain traps.

There were many skiers out on the steep slopes and SE aspects of Monitor Ridge, but all of the avalanche activity was limited to a narrow altitude band of 4500-5500'.

Roller balls were rare, but this one was greater than 3' in diameter.