Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Kyle Hornor
Observation Date:
December 14, 2020
Submitted:
December 14, 2020
Zone or Region:
Stevens Pass
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Susan Jane

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
5000
Aspect:
N
Comments:
Ran 15cm down, possibly on a new snow density break, not on the rain crust.
Photo:

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Observed the 6-8” of storm snow over the recent rain crust around 4400’,which increased to 12-14” by 5200‘ where we topped out. Hand pits and test slopes On the ascent didn’t show any sign of instability. The storm snow was all fist hardness and did not seem cohesive. Quick pit and CT at 5000’ on N aspect. Structure was 30cm of F hard snow on a rain crust with small grained facets at the interface. CT21 RP down 15 cm and CT24 RP down 30cm. Some loose snow ran and ended up entrenching a good amount of snow. See photo. Seemed somewhere in between a dry loose and wet loose. We called it a moist loose.

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