Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Nate Hough-Snee, Chris CoxObservation Date:
March 1, 2023Submitted:
March 1, 2023Zone or Region:
East CentralActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Icicle CreekObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
7800'Aspect:
EComments:
We saw a large, natural wind/hard slab with crown to 4-5 meters (estimated across valley) on the flanks of Cashmere Mountain. We couldn't see the runout, just the crown and debris was spun in. 50-55 degree terrain below a cliff band. HS-N-R3-D2Signs of Unstable Snow
Did you see shooting cracks?
Yes, IsolatedDid you experience collapsing or whumpfing?
Yes, IsolatedObservations
We went for a walk to 7500' to see how the snowpack was skiing and to view surrounding alpine terrain ahead of the storm. A calm, clear day gave way to moderate to strong winds and obscured sky by afternoon. S1 showers pushed in from the west by late afternoon and transport ramped from moderate to intense by our exit time. T'was definitely a transitional weather day with the late winter sun having an effect early alongside the increasing winds late. We observed multiple avalanche problems (wind slab, dry loose, wet loose, and a single large hard slab) from the last 3-4 days, traveling primarily on relatively steep northeasterly and easterly aspects.
The snowpack structure is still suspect over the Valentine's crust in hand pits to 6200' where it's 25-30cm deep. Above 6200', the crust is thinner and eventually goes away by 7000' although facets exist at the same interface in the pack (40+cm at 7000'). Hand shears were resistant on sheltered terrain although we managed a few small collapses and cracks in wind-affected terrain.
It seems like the incoming wind and snow may start to build a slab over the Valentine's crust-facet layer (25-35cm down) in the east central. Right now, sheltered areas haven't really developed the slab structure that we've seen elsewhere in the more wind-affected portions of the zone.
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