Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Andrei Maksimenka
Observation Date:
January 9, 2021
Submitted:
January 10, 2021
Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie Pass
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Bryant Peak W slopes

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
4850
Aspect:
SW
Comments:
SW slopes of Bryant Peak above Melakwa Lake. Slide was around 8 ft wide, 50-60 ft long.

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

A party above us ascending SW Bryant Peak towards Bryant Col triggered a small wind slab, around 4" thick. The slide channeled through a gully and stopped before reaching us. Party above us reported that they observed cracking and hollow sounding snow in that area. Subsequent travel didn't reveal any slides or cracks/hollow sounds. Weather observations: there was a strong wind (NE) at the Bryant col around 3pm, with gusts estimated up to 30 mph. During the day we observed significant wind transport at the Chair Peak east ridge crest (SW) around 10am and at Melakwa Pass (S) around 1pm. Mix of sun and clouds, sunny when slide happened.

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