Observation: Public

Name:

Andy Goodwin

Observation Date:

February 25, 2023

Submitted:

February 25, 2023

Zone or Region:

West South

Activity:

Walking/Hiking

Location:

Mt St Helens Worms Flows Route

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

3500'

Aspect:

W

Comments:

Just a few small loose wet avalanches on very steep slopes that caught the afternoon sun.

None reported

2600-4200': Loose soft snow. It didn't get warm enough today to make it wet.

4200-5600': Wind scoured ridges covered by a thick layer of clear ice (freezing rain?) with wind transported snow in valleys and lee areas.

6000-8300': Soft wind-transported snow 4- 20" deep over firmer snow. Knobby rime ice on ridges. Some blowing snow by afternoon.

At 8200' on a south aspect, there was 10" of soft snow, an ice layer, 20 inches of firmer snow, then another ice layer. Below that, many feet of firm snow. No signs of instability.

Temps were well below freezing on most of the mountain. Combined with 20 mph, there was no softening or melting above 6000' and minimal softening below.

Hard ice on a ridge at 5000'. May people have been through here in crampons. No marls.

An afternoon photo at 5000' west across the south side of the mountain. The ice and wind slabs are obvious.

A small wet loose avalanches in the late afternoon did not propagate to deeper layers.