Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Galen WeldObservation Date:
April 3, 2021Submitted:
April 3, 2021Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
McClellan Butte, East FaceTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
4500 ftAspect:
EComments:
On my descent I was easily able to manage loose wet sluffs, but in two spots these sluffs entrained additional snow and ran at least 100 vertical feet.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
I skied up the East Face of McClellan Butte today, and found more reactive conditions than expected. Even before 10am, slopes in the sun were becoming extremely soft, with ski penetration >8 inches in spots. With the increasingly soft and gloppy snowpack, along with numerous pinwheels and roller balls, I decided to turn around at 4600 feet before committing myself to the steepest, most open slopes.
At my high point, I noticed small glide cracks present in the snowpack on the East Face of the butte below the summit (see attached picture).
On my descent I was easily able to manage loose wet sluffs, but in two spots these sluffs entrained additional snow and ran at least 100 vertical feet.
Media
