Northwest Avalanche Center - Public Observation

Name:

David G

Observation Date:

May 4, 2023

Submitted:

May 4, 2023

Zone or Region:

West South

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Crystal Mountain, East Peak, Dogleg, FFF

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Comments:

Observed just south of Bear Gap, in an area where it's common to trigger shallow wind slabs. Appears to have been triggered from cornice fall (see picture... cornices on the left used to cast shadows like those on the right). Fog rolled in before I could investigate closer. The slide occurred sometime between Sunday and Wednesday.

None reported

Went to assess the damage after two weeks of high freezing levels and this incessant sun. TLDR: It appears the snowpack is starting to heal.

A couple days of cloudy skies and *almost* freezing overnight temps combined with a longer-than-expected window before the approaching front led me to steeper aspects than anticipated. I found myself skinning over unrecognizable wet slide debris into (then over) depressed and darkened runnels above the dampened sound of invisible streams whilst marching into thickening fog. Adventure grade conditions! Could you make snow cones with FREE tree sprinkles? Yes. Pan for gold below a collapsed snow bridge? Sure. Slash deeply cupped bowls below cooling hangfire? Why not!

And the snow? It wasn't variable; it was consistently terrible. It kept getting under my skin (see pictures). Adventure grade snow!

I also saw an interesting avalanche just south of Bear Gap on a north, northwest aspect just below the "weasel cornices" (see picture). Usually when you jump off those particular cornices the wind loaded areas below slide. Fog rolled in before I could investigate closer but looks like the wet slab broke into February and was triggered by cornice failure.