Northwest Avalanche Center

Observation: Public

All Observations

Observation Details

Name:
Austen Beason
Observation Date:
December 18, 2021
Submitted:
December 18, 2021
Zone or Region:
West South
Activity:
Driving
Location:
Glacier Hill, Mt Rainier

Observed Avalanches

Did you observe any avalanches? 
Yes
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to people
Elevation:
Well below treeline
Aspect:
NW
Comments:
Multiple wet loose slides starting off/near cliff bands and running 100-200’. Several WL-D1/R1-N-S

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

1-2” of rain on snow below 5000’ in the Mt Rainier zone, freezing rain and graupel above 5000’. 8” of new snow in 24 hrs at 1.5” swe at the Paradise snow study (checked at noon today).

Media

Public Field Report: Glacier Hill, Mt Rainier
Public Field Report: Glacier Hill, Mt Rainier

Advanced Observations

Observed Avalanche Problem #1: 
Wet Loose
Comments: 
Several hours of moderate to heavy rain on snow below 5000’ introduced significant free water into the snow pack. All slides observed were in terrain 35-40 degrees or steeper and where rain was likely to concentrate like gullies and below cliff face runnels. Probably very likely (naturally occurring) to trigger today in steep terrain.
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