Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Dallas GlassObservation Date:
April 4, 2021Submitted:
April 4, 2021Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Alpental ValleyObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
OtherSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
Near and below treelineAspect:
SEComments:
Several glide avalanches were reported on our Public Obs page on Saturday 4/3 in the Source Lake Area. We counted 5 separate glide avalanches between the Lower Rap wall, Bryant Peak Couloir, and SE Buttress of Chair Peak. They generally increased in size from D1.5 near the Rap Wall to D3 off the SE Buttress.Additional glide avalanches from Saturday (or possibly Friday) occurred on the S facing slopes of Snow Lake Divide. We counted 3 maybe 4 slides in that area mostly D1.5
We witnessed two shedding events at 11:04 and 12:00 on the Tooth and Hemlock/Bryant Col respectively today. Both were D1.5 and possibly Glide-ish in nature. Other shedding avalanches had occurred in this same terrain on Sat.
Numerous small loose wet avalanches were seen in Great Scott Bowl and along the summer route to Snow Lake.
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Terrain: Short trip from Alpental to Source Lake, then up Lower Great Scott/Big Trees to Draft Dodger Ridge and down via similar. Most aspects below treeline and W-N-E aspects near treeline.
Snowpack: 1-2" of new snow over the Easter Crust. This crust was poorly (if at all) frozen.
Lower elevations and S aspects: upper snowpack weak wet met forms down to 40-50cm. Then larger stronger melt-forms. Boot penetration 50-60cm (knee to mid-thigh)
>4500' N aspects: Still lots of dry snow in the upper snowpack. Several layers are still distinguishable. The snowpack is layered thin crust and strong rounded grains. Boot Pen: 40cm (boot top to mid-calf)
Large glide cracks observed on most aspects near and below treeline. Visibility limited alpine observations.
Weather: Mostly overcast skies with very light to light snowfall. Occasional breaks in the clouds, especially around noon. Light SW winds were not strong enough to blow snow where we traveled. Cooling temperatures.