Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Hough-Snee, Baxter, CoxObservation Date:
January 20, 2023Submitted:
January 20, 2023Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
LichtenbergTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5500'Aspect:
SComments:
Plenty of long running wet loose today on solar aspects, up to large D1s.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5600Aspect:
EComments:
Cornice triggered D1.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Today was a clear, calm, and generally warm day to ski multiple aspects before the sun cooked them down. We hit S, SE, SW, W, to 5800'. Winds were calm out of the west, giving way to a still day. We found that Wednesday's 30cm storm total over the MLK Day crust had settled down considerably in most locations exposed to yesterday's wind or today's sun. Monday night and Tuesday's 3-4cm of snow had compressed and was faceting on top of the MLK crust. In sheltered locations out of the sun, 3-4mm surface hoar remained present until the end of the day. Any solar aspects' snow surfaces had developed a stout crust by sunset. With tonight's temps, it seems like the weak snow-crust cycle might be in full swing on anything leaning south that cooked today.
The MLK crust ranges from 5cm at 3600' to 0.6cm at 5700'. On north, there were well developed facets below the MLK crust, but we didn't find surface hoar in a quick hand pit.
Avalanches today were limited to predictable, skier-triggered and natural wet loose on steep solar aspects. Yesterday's winds had stacked up a few cornices on east and one failed naturally sometime today.
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