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Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

Observation Details

Name:
Jakub Rynkiewicz
Observation Date:
January 29, 2021
Submitted:
January 29, 2021
Zone or Region:
Stevens Pass
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Arrowhead

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
5000
Aspect:
S
Comments:
On Rock Mountain on Southerly aspects with sun watched a few small D1 sized wet loose avalanches.
Photo:

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Variable conditions with dryer lighter snow up high at ~4500 ft. with very nice skiing back down to highway 2. Avoided steeper slopes and any runouts. Snowpack tests showed a slab on top of a weaker layer quite deep.

Media

Test slope wind slab

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
On logging cuts on the way up Arrowhead found wind slabs on W, NW aspects with scoured E, NE aspects. Found slabs ~25-35cm in some places. Were stubborn to trigger on test slopes. D1 maybe D2 in certain areas. Possible to trigger with a human, unlikely to trigger naturaly. 1/29/21
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