Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
scott rinckenbergerObservation Date:
December 23, 2021Submitted:
December 23, 2021Zone or Region:
Snoqualmie PassActivity:
Skiing/SnowboardingLocation:
East Facing Cave RidgeTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
YesAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 2: Could bury, injure, or kill a personElevation:
4500'Aspect:
SEComments:
Skiing a series of steep benches in a treed area, we were consistently ski-cutting fast moving sluffs of 10-15" of depth with little propagation, but with significant volume and speed. These were running full slope. Most of the terrain features needed to be cleared of snow in order to be skied safely due to the extent of the movement of dry loose snow. Snow was becoming more reactive throughout the day.Signs of Unstable Snow
None reported
Observations
Skiing was very good quality. At lower elevations (below 4500') a crust existed approximately 8-10" below the snow surface. Above around 4500', the upper crust was not present, but an older crust could be found 18-24" below the surface. The snow seemed to be bonding well to the crust layers, but appeared to be increasingly reactive in the storm layers above. By midday, the west wind was becoming a factor, and was creating some slab potential in open areas. We also saw significant accumulation of graupel at elevations from 3800-5000' which may present a weak surface for tonight and tomorrow's new snow.