Observation: Public
Observation Details
Name:
Enji CooperObservation Date:
December 29, 2021Submitted:
December 29, 2021Zone or Region:
Stevens PassActivity:
XC Skiing/SnowshoeingLocation:
Skyline Bowl/Sky Mountain/Tye PeakTriggered Avalanches
Did you trigger any avalanches?
YesWas it intentional?
NoAvalanche Type:
Dry Loose (Sluff)Size:
Size 1: Relatively harmless to peopleElevation:
~5k'Aspect:
NWComments:
Was triggering a lot of dry-loose issues throughout the day on various aspects, but most of the issues were on E facing aspects on steep slopes, which aligns with the concern from the avalanche forecast for today. I believe the dry-loose issues were actually more consolidated wind fetch, though in disguise. Most of the issues were isolated, but I made every effort to avoid going straight up cols for safety and comfort.Signs of Unstable Snow
Observations
Much of what I observed today aligned with the avalanche forecast. One thing that stood out though was the degree of deep powder that I ran into on E aspects. Based on the depth (1'~2'), I made every effort to make low angle switchbacks, pack down the powder, not linger in open areas (drainages, avalanche chutes), use concavities instead of convexities when ascending, and where possible leverage existing skin tracks--which is something I try not to do on snowshoes, but given risk and other factors, I pushed up skin tracks regardless.
Other users in the area on skis, snowboards, and splitboards seemed to be faring well with the snowpack, but they were able to float above most of the issues, so I resigned to lower angle traversing to avoid potential burial risk.
The prime areas of concern I had today were around the E-based aspects of Tye Peak (SE, E, NE): I noticed a lot of firmer snowpack and anytime I went off the beaten track (mostly on the uphill side), the semi-disturbed snowpack was breaking in more slab-like manners. The issue seemed isolated, based on other snowshoeing I did throughout the course of the day down undisturbed slopes, but I didn't want to take unnecessary risks on these slopes since the snowshoe penetration was deep downhill (thigh deep in areas; ~2').
Media
