Observation: Public

Name:

David Fitzgerald

Observation Date:

February 5, 2021

Submitted:

February 6, 2021

Zone or Region:

Olympics

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Klahane Ridge- near top of Super Bowl 5250'

Did you see shooting cracks?

No

Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing?

Yes, Isolated

Dug 2 pits at 5250' one on SE facing slope and one on SW facing slope. Stability on SW slope was significantly more stable. We skied slope angles < 30 degrees.
Snow pack depth- 225cm both locations

SE pit: 5250, 12:15PM, Clear/Sunny skies, no wind, slope angle 29 degrees
225-195 cm we found:
30cm soft snow- Fist hardness, 1st column test failure @ #7 (5 wrist taps + 2 Elbow hits), 1mm rounded grains
195-155cm we found
30cm of 3 finger hardness, 2nd column test failure @ #17, 3mm grains. Snow was decomposed, melt form/ sugary rotten layer
Temps were warming and we were concerned about the 30 cm weak layer triggering a deeper slide at 80 cm down. We chose NOT to ski the slope.

SW Pit: 5300', 12:30 pm, Clear/Sunny skies, no wind, slope angle 30 degrees
225-195 cm we found:
30cm soft snow- Fist hardness, column test did not fail in the 1st 30 cm as in pit #1 (SE exposure)- 1mm grains @ 30cm down
195-155cm we found
30cm of 3 finger hardness, Column test failure @ #27 (10 wrist/10 Elbow/ 7 Shoulder hits) 3mm grains. Snow was decomposing, melt form but much more solid
we did ski this slope known at "Super Bowl " one at a time, with radios and a visual on each skier to the safe zone.

rounded 1mm grains at 30 cm down from top in pit #1 SE aspect 5250'

Rotten, decomposed layer at 80 cm down- serious concern!

Pit depth 225 cm on both SE and SW aspects where pits were dug

Corniced Klahanie Ridge posed significant danger- did not venture above trees due to wind loaded cornices

Observation: Public

Observation Details