Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Marc Schrameck
Observation Date:
March 6, 2021
Submitted:
March 7, 2021
Zone or Region:
West South
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Tatoosh

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
Near treeline
Aspect:
N
Comments:
Dry loose which was anticipated on steeper slope angles.

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Aside from those D1 wind slab, and dry loose: we skied powdery snow on north aspects generally sticking to mellow slope angles above treeline (well, one steeper angle for a short pitch with ease below it), but entering steep slope angles in treeline (aside from dry loose we felt comfortable with our decision to enter these steeper lines.) The one non-north aspect we skied was the East aspect of the Castle which was a touch of soft atop firm (again, this was where we cut a small wind slab loose.)

Media

In line with my pole point is the small wind slab.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Cut one small Wind slab off the ridge by the Castle skiing down the East face. Noticed pockets of small windslabs in exposed sections near treeline where noticeable wind deposited snow was forming (again, East aspect.) These were small and unlikely to be harmful, but perhaps good to know for ridges and terrain traps.
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