Name:
John Barkhausen
Observation Date:
January 14, 2021
Submitted:
January 14, 2021
Zone or Region:
Mt Hood
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Above White River drainage
Did you observe any avalanches?
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Slab
Size:
Size 4: Could destroy a railway car, large truck, several buildings, or a substantial amount of forest
Elevation:
9500’
Aspect:
S
Comments:
It looked like a very large wind slab went naturally at about 9500’, then stepped down or triggered a sympathetic wet slab when it got to the wetter snow lower down. The wet debris stretched down the canyon thousands of feet.
Photo:
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, Widespread
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
No
I also saw numerous cracks, which I believe were glide cracks caused by the recent downpour. One was on the wall above WR drainage about the same elevation as the crown. Others were near/behind cornices.