Observation: Public

Name:

Dennis Kao

Observation Date:

March 11, 2023

Submitted:

March 11, 2023

Zone or Region:

Snoqualmie Pass

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Red Mountain - West/SW Face

Did you trigger any avalanches?

Yes

Was it intentional?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Soft Slab

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

5603 feet

Aspect:

W

Comments:

Intentionally went over small wind feature which failed almost instantly but only ~6 inches (recent snowfall), about 15-20 feet wide and dry loose slid down the west face through the gully

None reported

Fresh snow was very soft and sluffed easily, but interface below held up on W/SW aspects on Red Mountain above 4500'. Quick hand pit around 5200' on SW aspect showed about 1-2' of soft snow that fell off easily, crust below appeared well bonded. Observed wind loading on South ridge of Snoqualmie Mtn and Kendall Peak. Tested small wind feature at 5600' West Aspect on Red Mountain that almost instantly failed triggering a small slide of the new snow + wind loading but crust below held up. Warming in early afternoon - crusty around 4400' and below on South aspect of Red Mountain