Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Josh HirshbergObservation Date:
April 5, 2021Submitted:
April 6, 2021Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Lichtenberg MtnTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5050Aspect:
SEComments:
20cm deep x 7m wide. Triggered w ski cut on a steep convex feature. The crown broke about 1m in front of my skis and ran a maximum of 20ft downslope. A quick crown profile revealed: 0-16cm 1F hard, crust- quickly melting 16-20cm 4F hard, melt forms- weak layer ↓20cm 1F+ hard, crust- bed surfPhoto:
Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5500Aspect:
SEComments:
Likely triggered by cornice fall on April 1st or 2nd. Ran at least 1300ftPhoto:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
NoDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
Weather:
Clear, calm, and warm
Snowpack:
I found 2cm of snowfall from the 5th above 5,000ft. Surfaces on S below TL were soft by 11a and becoming unsupportive by 12p. I experienced at least 5 collapses between 4,500-5,200ft on S-SE aspects starting at 12p. I believe these were occurring on weak, moist melt forms 18-20cm below the surface as the surface crust was breaking down. This structure was also found in a profile at 4550ft, separate from the triggered avalanche (see images). Boot pen on these slopes was 45cm. While descending, I found occasionally punchy snow below 5,000ft.
Also notable:
Numerous open glide cracks on steep rock slabs
Significant broken and stripped trees from multiple D3.5 avalanches during the late February avalanche cycles on SE-SW
Media
