Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Enji Cooper
Observation Date:
December 5, 2021
Submitted:
December 5, 2021
Zone or Region:
East Central
Activity:
Walking/Hiking
Location:
Silver Creek Trail/French Cabin Mountain (west peak)

Triggered Avalanches

Did you trigger any avalanches? 
Yes
Was it intentional? 
No
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
5250
Aspect:
S
Comments:
Triggered small superficial wind slab breaks when going up/down south face. The slabs were approximately 1/16" thick.

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Hiking up Kachess Ridge Trail using Domerie Divide Trailhead. A lot of the snow below treeline prior to the Little Kachess Ridge junction had melted by the time I got back (was <1"). The snow in the Silver Creek Basin along the trail was <6" deep, with it being closer to 6" in open areas, i.e., not under tree cover. Getting closer to Silver Creek Tie Trail and hiking along it, I found pockets of windswept powder between 6" and 30" deep; the 30" deep powder was when I came down a mini-col along the S summit ridge. Even though I went up the dry rock due to avalanche concern, I went down the mini-col due to exposure concern dealing with poor, steep rock (scree in areas); I quickly transitioned back to the rock and crab walked down it once I hit the deep undisturbed windswept/dry powder. Conditions were mostly sunny transitioning to clear until dusk; after dusk, sky was obscured slightly.

Media

S summit ridge at 5.3k'.
S summit ridge NE face/E ridge.
Wind texturing along S summit ridge at 5.3k', facing ENE.

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wind Slab
Comments: 
Wind slabs were observed on S faces. I believe the fetch was blown over the hill to the N/E faces, given that the S face was lower (except in leeward areas). Cornices have not yet formed, but they were starting to overhang to the N/NE.
Observed Avalanche Problem #2: 
Wet Loose
Comments: 
Noticed dry loose transitioning to wet loose near treeline on S facing slopes due to solar input.
Observed Avalanche Problem #3: 
Dry Loose
Comments: 
Noticed some superficial sluffing when walking along the slopes below treeline coming out of Silver Creek Basin and near treeline along Silver Creek Tie Trail.
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