Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Enji Cooper
Observation Date:
December 25, 2022
Submitted:
December 25, 2022
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Activity:
Walking/Hiking
Location:
Rattlesnake Mountain via Rattlesnake Lake Trail

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Not sure what possessed me to boot up to Rattlesnake, but I successfully got up to East Peak and back.
Snow conditions were variable, but the general theme was postholing, postholing, through rounding grains.
In the spots where rain/precip hadn’t fallen, the snow more closely resembled old storm snow.
Horrible day for booting 😂. Bootpen was 3”-2’, with the lion’s share being on the deeper side (2’). I ran into some really deep drifts too (at least 3’).

Media

Low coverage ice below the ledge. Traction was a huge boon.
Just above the ledge.
Old snowboard track was my saving grace today.
Bootpen shot near summit.
Another bootpen shot near the summit

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wet Loose
Comments: 
Wet loose consolidating snow was the theme of the day!
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