Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
SummerObservation Date:
December 10, 2022Submitted:
December 11, 2022Zone or Region:
OlympicsActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Poma/ ski areaObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
~5200'Aspect:
NComments:
100 yards skiers left of the poma line evidence of a slab avalanche can be found. Crown. ~1" deep. Runout was quite short, only 50-60 feet, but propagation of the crown was about 150' or soSigns of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
NoDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, WidespreadObservations
Also observed were numerous slab crowns along the far face & avalanche ski runs, size 2, 1' crown, propagation for hundreds of feet, extending from ski area to the ridge/traverse.
Snow was whumpfing/collapsing throughout our mini tour along low angle terrain. The snow was obviously wind loaded in spots, fluffy and fun in others. Upon return, skiing below potential hangfire was among the more questionable decisions I've made in the backcountry, though there was no evidence that the observed slides ran to our location in the valley bottom.