Observation: Public
Observation Details
Observation Date:
April 25, 2021Submitted:
April 27, 2021Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Lichtenberg MountainTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5200-5600Aspect:
NEComments:
Mt. Lichtenberg on 4/25/21 by the Lichtenwasser Lake route. East of NE aspect 3-4" thick soft storm slabs 5-15ft wide Sliding path would continue until the slope flattened out. The upper mountain was the worst between 5200-5600 feet where the new falling snow could not adhere to the older super-saturated rounded grains below.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
OtherSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5600-5800Aspect:
EComments:
Large cornice falls.Summit ridge protected by 10ft tall cornices spanning 70ft+
A few large blocks had fallen off in the past week, causing slides.
Observed fractures behind the leading edge of attached cornices indicate more to fall very soon, especially with Spring sun and rain adding weight to the snow.
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
I climbed Lichtenberg Mtn on Sunday 4/25/21 by the Lichtenwasser Lake route. Wet but firm snow made for average climbing conditions early in the morning. After reaching the lake, the soft rain switched to large, sticky wet flakes which made climbing strenuous.
The past week of intense sun and rain produced a surprisingly reliable layer of super-saturated large rounded grains to a depth as far as I dug, about 3ft deep. The new large wet flakes did not adhere to the lower layer very well and quickly accumulated to a 3-4" soft wet slab that was extremely prone to sliding. This produced fairly small slides but the steep sections of the mountain directly above cliffs and forest could make these very dangerous. Mind your exposure.
There are also large cornices protecting the summit ridge with many having fallen and started slides on older snowpacks. Some of these cornices have visible fractures behind the leading edge. With the Spring sun, rain, and warming temperatures, they are going to fall very soon.