Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Sam Luthy
Observation Date:
February 7, 2021
Submitted:
February 7, 2021
Zone or Region:
Olympics
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Hurricane Ridge- Maggies

Signs of Unstable Snow

Did you see shooting cracks? 
No
Did you experience collapsing or whumpfing? 
Yes, Isolated

Observations

Cold temperatures and broken skies today with increasing winds and snow flurries in the afternoon. A melt freeze warming crust from Friday lead to difficult skiing conditions on all aspects in the Maggie's Area. Moderate winds from the west at ridge tops was transporting very little snow due to the firm and crusty surface and not adding much to a winds lab problem at this elevation. Snow Profiles on a NE aspect at 5100ft identified a SH layer 85-90cm below the surface and just above the 1/13 crust. It was found to be generally unreactive in snow pack tests with the exception being a Deep Tap Hard result. SH grains were found to be intact but laying flat in the layer. Two settlements ( whumphs) were observed higher in the Maggie's area indicating that the snow pack is still responding to the load in this weeks storm and instabilities exist.

Media

A brief period of clearing on Mt Angeles
Excellent coverage at 4800ft
Though not routinely reactive to snowpack tests, the Surface Hoar layer above the 1/13 crust is still identifiable and preserved.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Persistent Slab
Comments: 
NE aspect at 5100' on maggies approach. SH layer at 85cm on 2/7 below surface and 4-5cm above 1/13 crust. The only activity on this layer was a single (1of 3) DTH result during a L1 avalanche course. The SH grains remain intact but at this location were laying flat and with the surrounding rounding grains bonding well. Un-likely to be triggered by a person but still possible as a secondary avalanche to wind slab or storm slab.
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