Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Joe DellaportaObservation Date:
December 19, 2021Submitted:
December 19, 2021Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
Stevens Pass/Henry ClearcutsObserved Avalanches
Did you observe any avalanches?
YesAvalanche Type:
Soft SlabSize:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
5-6000 ftAspect:
NComments:
Witnessed a faint crown in the north facing bowl of Jim Hill. I couldn't gather much info on it due to the distance, but it looked like it had run in the last 12-24 hrs.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Yesterday, at pass level I found a wet, upside-down structure during the afternoon hours. The top 15 cm of snow consisted of moist grains which were topped by a thin crust, likely from some mixed precipitation during the afternoon hours while it warmed up ( observed at 1600). Today, traveling mainly below 4000 ft in the Henry Clear-cuts just east of the pass, I found a drier snowpack, yet still upside down in nature from the brief warm-up yesterday. It was less noticeable than at Pass level, but a quick hand hardness profile would show this. Travel was tough and trail breaking was deep. I did note some NSF's on the surface BTL from the cold, mostly clear night.
I dug a quick pit at 3800 ft on a N aspect and found of HS of 155 cm. During a compression test, I got a CTM ( 16 taps), Resistant Planar, failing 45 cm down. This layer was a fist hard layer, comprised of mainly stellars/mixed forms. I located a (Dec 8th?) crust 90 cm down at this location and I didn't receive any results on this.
Overall, the storm snow appeared to settle out since yesterday at BTL elevations. Deep snow immersion is definitely another hazard I would consider while traveling up near the crest right now.
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