Observation: Public

Name:

Josh Hirshberg

Observation Date:

February 5, 2021

Submitted:

February 5, 2021

Zone or Region:

Stevens Pass

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Highlands Bowl

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Soft Slab

Size:

Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a person

Elevation:

5600ft, Near treeline

Aspect:

SE

Comments:

Highlands Bowl, Stevens Pass side-country, ESE-S. Potentially D2.5-R3. ~50cm x 200-300m wide x 200-400ft vert. Likely ran on the Jan 24th FC just above the mid-Jan crust.
A significant portion of the bowl released on Friday, possibly mid-day. There were at least 2 separate avalanches which may have been connected by cracks through a thin strip of intact snow. Based on similar events in past seasons, I'm guessing these released simultaneously or symapthetic and were either natural or remotely triggered. Poor visibility and hangfire prevented gathering more specific details.

None reported

We found very easy, clean hand shears about 50cm below the surface on the Jan 24 FC on a similar slope nearby to Highlands Bowl.

Rough estimate of avalanches in Highlands Bowl on 2/5/2021. Since visibility was bad and we couldn't safely travel on the slope, some details may not be exactly correct.