Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Andy Traylor
Observation Date:
February 5, 2023
Submitted:
February 5, 2023
Zone or Region:
Mt Hood
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Tom, Dick and Harry

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
Yes, Isolated
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
No

Observations

Skinned up from Mirror Lake TH starting at 8am towards Tom, Dick and Harry. Calm in the trees but steady snowfall. Quite warm (32Fish) from 3,600’ to 4,600’ with some roller balls observed and snow clumping on skins. South winds picked up at the ridgeline with active snow transport and obvious wind slab formation at and just below the ridge. Skied a few fun lines in and out of the trees in 1-2’ of fresh but did punch through to a crust and some rocks in a few spots on the NE side of the bowl.

Media

Just below 5,000’ at the ridge crest on a NE aspect.
Small wind slab pocket that popped. Easy to get a fracture, hard to get much movement with wet, new snow bed surface.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Small wind slabs 4-8” thick building at and just below ridgeline on N/NE aspects around 5,000’. Small pockets at 10am (size 0.5-1) but growing throughout the day with active snow transport. Easy to create shooting cracks and trigger isolated pockets skinning along the ridge.
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