Observation: Public

Name:

Erik Olson

Observation Date:

February 28, 2021

Submitted:

March 1, 2021

Zone or Region:

Snoqualmie Pass

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Mt Catherine

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

4700

Aspect:

N

Comments:

Wet loose happened around noon as things started to warm up.

None reported

Dug a quick pit at 4400' on a N aspect. Found that the 2/22 AR crust was about 100cm down already! Snow on top of crust was right side up F-4F-1F-4F with the crust at P. AR crust seems fairly thick - 20-30cm. HS was at least 350cm, but probe didn't hit bottom.

Did a CT with the following results - CT2@8cmPC in the new snow. CT11@20cm PC. Pulling on the remaining column created a very irregular break in the AR crust. Nothing about this was concerning.

Snow rapidly became heavy on the second lap of the day with rollerballs from trees sheading. Saw D1 above us in steeper terrain that included a good sized tree limb. That was concerning and so we left.