Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Ellie PriceObservation Date:
March 30, 2021Submitted:
March 30, 2021Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
White Salmon GlacierTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
above treeline, ~5000 feetAspect:
NComments:
I set off a small wind slab avalanche in a gully. After an accidental ski cut on the steeper skiers' right side of the gully, the slab propagated about 20 feet right of me and then slid down, with me, less than 100 feet - the crown was 6 to 8 inches. The avalanche depth was at about knee level and I stayed relatively upright as it deposited me at the bottom of the gully where my ski partner was waiting - another partner was above and did not see it happen. The first partner down had mentioned he thought some dry loose was happening in the gully, but it didn't slab until I cut the right side on a turn. From the photo you can see the crown behind the skier and to the right.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
We skied the White Salmon Glacier and had excellent snow and stable conditions at the top, it was not until we trended skiers left toward the bottom and made our way our down a small gully that we found wind affected snow.