Observation: Public
Observation Details
Observation Date:
May 9, 2021Submitted:
May 9, 2021Zone or Region:
West SouthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Mt. Rainier - Nisqually ChuteTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
8000'Aspect:
SWComments:
~13:30. Warm snow from last 2-3 days (Thur-Sat) roller balled and then slid on older bed surface. Ran ~800', about 100' wide at the widest.Photo:
Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6000'-8000'Aspect:
Comments:
Aspects S - SW - W. Roller balls apparent everywhere initiated from snow dropping from cliffs in area immediately proximate to Nisqually Chute.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
After a great ride down from Muir, which was admittedly initiated later than expected, we got to the top of the Chute and dropped in without really updating our avalanche assessment. The last time we had eyes on that area was ~4 hours earlier on our ascent to Muir. Natural avalanche activity was immediately apparent upon entering Chute, but we felt it was safer/easier to try to conservatively descend rather than booting back out. The human factors going into this one are classic. (Also, hug your moms!)