Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Jeff Metsky
Observation Date:
March 7, 2023
Submitted:
March 7, 2023
Zone or Region:
East North
Activity:
Skiing/Snowboarding
Location:
Hinkhouse

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
7000’
Aspect:
SE
Comments:
Small soft slab near steep cliff bands. 30’ wide, ran about 150’ on steep terrain below rocks. Entrained surface snow. Appeared to occur on 20230306

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

-At 7250’ noted HS of 200cm at a 210 degree aspect. Skies OVC, S-1, winds light below ridge lines, moderate gusts on ridgetops. No surface snow being transported.
-Hasty pits on ascent consistently sheared on buried crust 35-37cm below surface. Snow from 20230304-05 was forming a 4F hard slab above this layer. Most aspects receiving direct solar rays had a 1F hard layer approximately 4cm thick just below the surface. New snow over night/early AM left about 1cm on top of this sun layer.
-FC were found on the underside of this sun crust layer and failed on steep rollovers creating dinner plate size fractures on descents.

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