Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Andrew KieferObservation Date:
February 27, 2021Submitted:
February 27, 2021Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Anderson/WatsonObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 3: Could bury and destroy a car, damage a truck, destroy a wood frame house, or break a few treesElevation:
5600-5800ftAspect:
NWComments:
Very large natural avalanche on Bacon Peak that likely ran on Feb 25. Note the bed surface reloading with wind textured snow visible. Even very large avalanches from the Feb 22 and Feb 25 natural cycles are quickly disappearing with new snow and wind.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
NoObservations
Traveled by snowmobile and skis in the Anderson/Watson area. Skies were clear in the morning and became overcast by early afternoon. Continuous snow began near 1200ft with snow depths of 4-5m+ above 4000ft. Observed evidence of the natural avalanche cycles that occurred on Feb 22 and Feb 25. Most notable was a very large avalanche on the NW face of Bacon Peak that likely ran on Feb 25. Also saw crowns of two recent large avalanches on the north aspect of Mt. Watson, but crowns were hidden by recent snow and wind loading. Cornices were large and overhung in many alpine areas. Minor dry/wet loose activity occurred on steep sun-exposed slopes. Snow surfaces were heavily wind affected above 5000ft where the wind slab problem was widespread and easy to feel and see. In wind-sheltered areas, 100cm of right-side-up storm snow (F-4F-1F) was settling quickly and well bonded to the Feb 22 melt-freeze crust (10cm thick K-P hard). Snowpack tests targeting the recent storm snow did not produce concerning results with resistant planar fractures and no propagation.
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