Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Josh HirshbergObservation Date:
March 16, 2021Submitted:
March 16, 2021Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Henry CreekObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5600Aspect:
EComments:
We watched a small (D1.5 )avalanche release in extreme terrain around 12:30p. It ran approximately 600ft through cliffs and slopes >45 degrees. It may have been caused by a small cornice fall.Other activity- More evidence of the widespread avalanche cycles in late February. We saw crowns on ESE, 5,600ft from avalanches that ran 1,600ft in Henry Creek to size D3.5. The debris contained multiple small and mature trees. In Whitepine Creek we observed 3-4 debris piles of size D3.5-4. These originated on SSE aspects of Jim Hil and ran around 2800ft. I suspect there are more avalanches on the south side of Jim Hill that I couldn't see. These avalanches all likely ran during the cycles of either Feb 22nd or 26th and many if not all of them likely involved the mid-January weak layer.
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Weather- Calm w an occasional light gust at 6,400ft. Strong sun, FEW thin clouds.
Snowpack- Surfaces varied from surface hoar (2mm) and surface facets (0.5-1.0mm) on N above 6,000ft to decomposed stellars on shaded, N aspects below 5,000ft, to melt forms on most other slopes. 5cm of recent snow from 3/15 formed very small drifts up to 10cm deep near and above treeline. These were very isolated, though still touchy on shaded northerly aspects. At 5,700ft, N height of snow was >350cm. we found planar, but rough shears down 35cm below older wind drifted slabs. The mid-January crust was down 240cm.
Media
