Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Martin MudryObservation Date:
May 8, 2021Submitted:
May 8, 2021Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Snot CouloirObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5400-4800'Aspect:
NWComments:
From the top of the Thunder Creek exit on Snoqualmie Mountain we witnessed 3 point release wet slides that originated in the Snot Couloir, traveled a few hundred feet and fanned out to 50-150' wide at their toe at around 12:35p - 12:50p. We saw a group of two skiers heading towards the Thunder Creek exit (from the Slot) and likely to travel through terrain on the same aspect/angle that had not slid yet. Yelled down to them to make them aware it just slide and during that time a second slide came down. We later noticed a potential third slide came down within 20-50' of their traverse. Waited to see what the skiers would do and to have eyes on them if they continued to head toward Thunder Creek. They regrouped and appeared to head towards the pass of Avalanche Mountain and out via Snow and Source lake.Photo:
Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Touring up the Phantom Trees on Snoqualmie Mountain, with new snow made skinning easier than expected. As we got above 4000', snow depth increased to 4-5" and in more open areas was not bonded well to the previous layer. Roller balls started occurring from the skin track collecting snow to about 2' in diameters. As we started to pop out of the trees around 5100' we ran into a group of 3 skiers who had just skied up Snoqualmie Mountain, descended via the slot and came back up the Thunder Creek exit. They mentioned that the Slot and north facing terrain was extremely variable and that they had set off a small slab in the slot itself. They also noticed that larger roller balls were occurring across their skin track up to the top of the slot that had not been there previously. We decided to head to the top of the Thunder Creek exit and reassess our plans to head towards the slot. We ruled out continuing to travel up Snoqualmie Mountain towards the Snot/Slot but considered dropping into Thunder Creek to take a look at the Circus Couloir and/or ski out via Snow and Source Lake. While evaluting the entrance to Thunder Creek we heard the second party wooping from finishign the Slot and wintessed the first slide on the Snot described above. After watching the skiers decide to exit via Snow Lake we skied the Phantom Trees linking together the lowest angle terrain. Many roller balls getting up to 3' in size were occurring and it seemed like steeper roll overs could lead to loose wet slides.
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