Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Ama HartmanObservation Date:
March 6, 2023Submitted:
March 6, 2023Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
SwathTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6400Aspect:
NComments:
Cornice release produced wind slab. Ran 200'.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5000'Aspect:
NWComments:
Naturals ran about 50'.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
NoDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
Started with 4" of hot pow at 2400' which turned quickly into 8-12" of (hot) fresh with elevation gain. Temps dropped and snow became noticeably lighter around 3800', where around a foot of fresh covered around 2' of older consolidated snow. Skies were mostly cloudy throughout the day, with light snow coming and going. Wind was calm at lower elevations and SE at ridgetop. Temps were low throughout the day drying lower elevation snow until around 2800' where hot pow had begun to freeze by the time we returned.
Observed a whumpf with cracking from nearby trees at 5400' skinning along the edge of a steep north facing hallway. ECT test in this area yielded a sudden planar Q1 shear. Continued to 5600' where ECT test failed to produce any results. PST done on the sidewall of this pit, result was 95/100. Observed a second whumpf at 5800' on a NNE aspect.
Observed dry and wet loose naturals at elevations up to 5600'. Kicked a cornice at 6400' which released a roughly 30' wide D1 wind slab that did not step down to any notable layer.
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