Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Matthew CrislerObservation Date:
December 19, 2020Submitted:
December 19, 2020Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Mount Rainier - TatooshObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5500Aspect:
NEComments:
Crown a few centimeters deep naturally triggered apparently by some falling snow from a tree onto a steep NE aspect that was actively loading. Very shallow, but propagated across a large portion of the slope. Located in the steep slopes just separated from the skin track below Pinnacle Peak.Also noticed a few other small pockets of wind slab in abnormal locations with similar triggers from falling snow.
Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
With the obvious potential for Wind slab, we steered well clear of steeper loaded slopes. In doing so, we did not observe shooting cracks or other signs of unstable wind slabs. Near and below treeline winds were calm across both N and S aspects with pretty heavy and moist snow from the transition into treed terrain. Lower down (though still >5000 feet) and unpredictably dispersed there was an apparent zipper rain crust underneath 2-3 cm of snow making for some challenging travel conditions.
Media
