Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Daniel MacDonald
Observation Date:
January 1, 2023
Submitted:
January 2, 2023
Zone or Region:
Mt Hood
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Lower Little Zigzag Canyon East Ridge to Magic Mile Terminus

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Afternoon/Evening ski tour from Govy Skiway (2:30pm) to the top of Magic Mile Lift via Glade Trail over to eastern ridge of Little Zigzag Canyon and up past PCT xing. Descent (8pm) via ski area and trails.

Daytime (BTL) weather was less calm and sunny than expected. Evening (N&ATL) was cold and clear and starry w a bit of breeze later/ATL. More enjoyable off trail skinning w less WBE (winter bushwhacking-equivalent) than expected down low. Snowpack BTL was multi-layered, but supportable enough for reasonable skinning. Higher up found a mixed bag from soft and shallow to windpacked to scoured and icy-textured. A few indicators of (warm) unstable snow along the way, but no avalanches or other red flags observed. Even tried jumping on a safe south-facing convex pillow ATL wo any reaction (beyond almost losing my balance on the skid down).

Probably most significant thing I noticed were the headlamp sparkles on top of NTL, somewhat sheltered but sparsely-treed snow . Last time I saw that (in a similar area nearby), the persistent weak layer problem came about with the subsequent significant snowfall a couple weeks ago. Whether the calm, cold clear night-encouraged surface hoar remains intact this time around and creates a similar threat in the days or weeks ahead, time will tell.

Media

Skin track showing surface support
Surface conditions w befuddlement by line creation (wind? submerged terrain? rain? multi-pronged stream convergence?)
Surface conditions BTL in gully terrain
Neato
Showing layered based on force of pole plant
Feather-like surface hoar future weak layer development?
Post jumping on pillow
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