Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Aldis Raisters
Observation Date:
January 2, 2023
Submitted:
January 2, 2023
Zone or Region:
Mt Hood
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Newton Canyon/Pea Gravel ridge

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
9000 ft-10000 ft
Aspect:
SE
Comments:
Large debris field seen on Newton Clark glacier. Could not see crown. Likely natural wind slab from recent storms.

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Bowl was a mix of wind affected hard slab (4-6 cm thick), rime/freezing rain crust and sun crusts. Dug pit at 5600 ft on NE aspect approximately 25 deg slope near summer Tline trail down in the canyon. HST 185 cm. Christmas rain crust is about 20 cm thick down 85 cm. A crust sandwich at the top 25 cm with fist dry new snow between rain and wind slab produced some reactivity in CT with Q1 and Q2 shears. CTV Q1 at 4 cm, CTE Q2 at 25 cm. ECTHN at 25 cm no propagation in ECT on any of those layers. Christmas crust was P hard with wet rounding grains below. No results below this bomber rain crust.

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