Observation: Public

Observation Details

Triggered Avalanches

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Toured up Eightmile Rd and departed the road onto E/NE terrain on Cashmere shoulder at approx 2.6k. Ascended through broad ribs and treed terrain to 4.7k. Skies were obscured for the entirety of our tour and precip was S2 to S3. Though the precip was falling as snow it was quite warm and wet for the entirety of the tour. Winds were at most calm for the entirety of the tour.

The Christmas crust was present at variable depths, underneath old snow and more recent storm snow. Below 3.5k, new storm snow was fairly dense and ever so slightly upside down relative to the older underlying snow. A hand pit at 3.5k identified a noticeable and reactive density change in the new/old snow interface, with the newer snow at this elevation demonstrating slab characteristics. Kicking on the corners of the skin track resulted in this layer cracking though we did not observe any cracking/collapsing of this layer while skiing. Above 3.5k the new snow became colder and less cohesive. It was bonding well to old snow surfaces. There was minimal wind effect noted. HS at 4,340’ on E aspect 100cm. Travel became trickier on steeper terrain in spots due to the stout Christmas crust.

We skied from 4.7k and enjoyed nice soft powder turns (occasionally contacting the Christmas crust) for about 1200 feet, which then transitioned to creamier heavy snow for about 500 feet, and then fairly dense saturated snow below that. I intentionally triggered two wet loose avalanches, both in the D1 range, the first in an east facing gully feature at 3.1k and the second on a steeper convexity at 2.7k.