Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
PitMaster
Observation Date:
February 4, 2023
Submitted:
February 4, 2023
Zone or Region:
West South
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Saint Helens

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Pit @ 4500' SW aspect
OVC and RS
33 degrees F
10 mph SW
Shovel shear test fractures on 1/27, 1/21, 1/18, and MLK layers.
Snowpack tests CTN and ECTX
Snow was in various stages of rounding and melt forms, appeared/felt very saturated through entire pit and below the 120cm we dug.

Skinned to 6000', snow quality was still heavy/wet and grabbed your skis.

No new snow on trees.

Media

ECTX - excessive force applied after standard tests to make block slide on MLK crust and impact broke planar on 1/21 crust (4500' SW aspect)
4000' SE aspect

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 

Comments: 
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