Observation: Public

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Observations

Took forestry road (NF-75) up towards Watch Mountain, following the old road bed from last week (was up last on 1/23). Ran into slightly deeper new snowpack that had fallen in the past week so I donned my snowshoes around 3.4k’.

When going up small non-consequential slope around 3.8k’ to cut a road switchback (it was around 30 degrees in spots), observed poorly bonded storm layer on top of stout rain crust (was unable to puncture the crust when stomping with my snowshoes). This resulted in short localized sliding.

Steered clear of uphill side along road, observing sluffing and old triggered wet loose avalanches (D1 bordering on D2). Area around ridge showed very stout ice crust in rain shadows under trees (real crampons would have been better). On the way down I was kicking down numerous small carbs, some which entrained more snow and became cantaloupe sized.

Morning conditions when arrived were cloudy; by the time I got up to the old lookout site the view became very obscured with a southeast wind, and small rime ice was starting to fall at 4.6k’. It was closer to rain down around 3.2k’. Wind was 5mph sustained on the ridge with 10mph-15mph gusts.

Some more details can be found in my WTA trip report: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2021-01-30-1366830809 .