Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Josh P
Observation Date:
January 13, 2021
Submitted:
January 13, 2021
Zone or Region:
Olympics
Activity:
Walking/Hiking
Location:
Mt Townsend

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person
Elevation:
5000’
Aspect:
SW
Comments:
After reading on WTA that a snowshoer 3 days ago triggered a small avalanche I crossed a debris field in the path of the switchbacks. There was as a sizable amount of debris in a small runout (25 feet across). Much of the snow was collapsing when walked on. No shooting cracks were spotted, merely several woomfing steps. There was several aspects with a large amount of wind loading. Pictures provided from the summit and camp windy show this wind loading.

Signs of Unstable Snow

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

Observations

The fresh layer from the night of 1/12 seemed to be rounding on the top I a loose layer about 1/2 inch in depth. This top layer provided a small amount of purchase but with full weight collapsed in an isolated pocket. None of this seemed to cause shooting cracks. The avalanche danger seemed most present in the the stretch between switchbacks so I cut up the sides of the switch back while staying in the trees and out of an avalanche path.

Media

Wind loading on the summit
Avalanche debris field in path of switchbacks
Heavily wind loaded aspect near camp windy
Close up on top layer of wind loaded aspect.
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