Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Ian SObservation Date:
May 13, 2023Submitted:
May 13, 2023Zone or Region:
West NorthActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Coleman-DemingTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Wet LooseSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
6000ftAspect:
NComments:
Small wet loose slides from our ski tracks around 1pm. These ran a surprising length even though they were small.Observed Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
OtherSize:
Size 5: Could gouge the landscape. Largest snow avalanche knownElevation:
8100 - 9000Aspect:
NComments:
An incredibly large serac fall from Colfax peak sent an impressive amount of debris down the glacier. Car sized blocks travelled over 0.25 miles. Unsure of release date but it seemed recentSigns of Unstable Snow
Observations
We traveled up the Coleman-Deming route today up to 8300 feet. Our goals were to stay away from overhead hazard and watch out for glide cracks and opening crevasses with the heat.
Snow is rapidly melting beneath the Kulshan cabin site, and travel was easier on foot below then. Continued on skis from the cabin site on continuous snow. Snow was soft but a breeze helped keep it consolidated in the early morning hours.
Upon reaching the lower reaches of the glacier, we observed evidence of multiple avalanches that seemed related to the heat. Wet slab avalanches on steep S facing terrain across the Roosevelt glacier, serac fall debris and wet loose slides (D2-3) from Bakers west face, and a massive serac fall from the N face of Colfax peak. This serac fall made us feel that turning around was the best option for the day at 8300ft.
We enjoyed nice corn from 8300 to 6000ft around 11:30am. From 6000-4000ft the snow was heavy mush and began to entrain in roller balls and wet loose slides (D1) easily.
When the breeze wasn’t present it was HOT.
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