Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Enji CooperObservation Date:
December 5, 2021Submitted:
December 5, 2021Zone or Region:
East CentralActivity:
Walking/HikingLocation:
Silver Creek Trail/French Cabin Mountain (west peak)Triggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Hard SlabSize:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
5250Aspect:
SComments:
Triggered small superficial wind slab breaks when going up/down south face. The slabs were approximately 1/16" thick.Signs of Unstable Snow
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
