Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Jim CostakisObservation Date:
January 31, 2021Submitted:
January 31, 2021Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Source Lake EnvironsObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5000'Aspect:
NEComments:
This appeared to be a wind slab, facing toward Bryant Couloir, from a col accessed via a ramp exiting Pineapple Pass. We saw a party heading up the ramp earlier, and then saw their out-track later. They appear to have skied out unaffected by this small slide. However, it occurred above a steep cliff band and could have seriously injured a person if they were knocked down.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Snow was firming up in Pineapple Pass, more on the NE aspects than the NW aspects. Hasty hand pit yielded a 6 inch firm probably wind slab with planar release. The ice crust layer was deeper than this, so I think this failed on a layer formed during the past few days of storms rather than the ice crust. However, no reactivity was noted while skiing Pineapple Pass or from Snow Lake Divide, except as above on a steep NE aspect above treeline.
Media
