Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
CSMObservation Date:
February 26, 2023Submitted:
February 27, 2023Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Lake ValhallaTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
4,800'-5,500'Aspect:
EComments:
D 0.5 soft slabs broke beneath snowboard + skis, ran within the 16" of new storm snow (rather than at new/old snow interface), 10" deep, 10 ft wide, on 35º-38º convex slopes (modest, Ʌ-shaped propagation). At lower elevations (3,700'-4,700'), snow was "sloughing" under skis on firm, crust surface but was not propagating like it did up high.Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, WidespreadDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, WidespreadObservations
We checked out Odin Bowl but observed obvious instabilities (widespread cracking + collapsing) at upper elevations (4,800'-5,500'), so ended up staying on low angle terrain. There was a notable change in new snow accumulation from Lichtenburg trees (8-10" new snow on stout crust) to Lake Valhalla zone (14-16"; no crust present). We saw no natural avalanches, but it was snowing fairly hard (S1-S1.5) with low visibility most of the day and a few, distinct graupel events mixed in. New snow was light and unconsolidated, but the quantity made trail breaking difficult. There was a strong (~20-30 mph) west wind at the Valhalla bench (4'900; under Lichtenburg West) early in the day, but it died down by the afternoon.
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