Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Craig Roberts
Observation Date:
December 20, 2022
Submitted:
December 20, 2022
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Commonwealth/Kendall Knobb

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
3400
Aspect:
SW
Comments:
Small slide on an ~40 degree side of a gully, remotely triggered from the skin track. See photo with shooting crack and slide area outlined in red.

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
No

Observations

A party of two skiers, we decided to tour to Kendall Trees based on the Moderate treeline forecast. We adopted an assessment mindset and conducted ski pole and hand pits as we ascended the PCT and lower treed slopes of Kendall Knob. We observed localized cracking as we skinned and small slabs of snow collapsing into the track. As the terrain began gaining steepness we observed shooting and remote cracking radiating from the skin track for distances up to 30 feet. We also observed a crack the remotely triggered a small storm slab on a gully nearby the track. See picture with red outline of crack and slab. We discussed with another party, and both parties decided to turn around and ski back down the track prior to reaching the Kendall Knob cut block.

Media

A remotely triggered small storm slab in a gully adjacent the skin track. Shooting crack (~30’) and slide are outlined in red. WSW, 3400’.
Shooting cracks radiating from the skin track on adjacent slopes. Approx 20’. WSW, 3300’.
Storm slabs elicited by ski pole and hand pit tests were very reactive, breaking 2-5” down on loose, dry storm snow. WSW, 3300’.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Storm Slab
Comments: 
At 10am today we observed small storm slabs <=D1, that were being remotely triggered as we skinned through treed terrain that averaged under 30 degrees. Travel was on W to SW faces from 32-3400’ between the PCT and approch to Kendall Knob. Slabs ranged from 2-5” depth and broke and slid on new low density storm snow we believe fell overnight.
Observed Avalanche Problem #2: 

Comments: 
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