Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Matt PrimomoObservation Date:
March 30, 2021Submitted:
March 30, 2021Zone or Region:
East CentralActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Mission RidgeTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6,300ftAspect:
SEComments:
Very small wet loose avalanches could be triggered on steep slopes in the sun. These weren't widespread and didn't pack much punch. I had to hunt for slopes that they would run on.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Temperatures were cold in the morning but as soon as the sun hit you, it warmed up quickly. Winds were calm to light and I didn't observe any drifting snow.
I found between 3-5" of new snow in the Stemilt Basin, largely affected by recent very strong winds. Some slopes had old melt freeze crust, which skiied like great corn, and others had more thickly drifted new snow. This also skiied well.
I tested many wind drifted areas, but couldn't get any shooting cracks or small wind slabs to fail. A small wind slab did appear to have been triggered by a cornice on an east facing slope in the sun (see photo below). This was in the near treeline elevation band, and i'd guess that it occurred yesterday.
Media
