Observation: Public

Name:

Erik J Olson

Observation Date:

January 9, 2022

Submitted:

January 9, 2022

Zone or Region:

Snoqualmie Pass

Activity:

Skiing/Snowboarding

Location:

Near Mt Catherine

Did you observe any avalanches?

Yes

Avalanche Type:

Dry Loose (Sluff)

Size:

Size 1: Relatively harmless to people

Elevation:

3600, 3800,4000

Aspect:

N

Comments:

Saw the remains of multiple (assumed because no visible crowns) dry loose. These seem to have run on the 1/7 rain crust and entrained a fair about of the power on top. The start zone was somewhere below the radio towers. Not clear

None reported

Dug in the snow a bit near Frog lake.
HS ~220
~8cm of F powder on top of 3cm (1/7) rain crust. Crust is mostly supportive for skis
12/21 crust is down 145cm
Dry snow below the crust with gradually increasing hardness (F to 1F) over 130cm range (I was lazy and didn't want to dig too far down). The dry snow sort of surprised me because I observed moist snow below the crust (below 5200') in the Alpental valley just yesterday.
The only other thing of note was how soft the snow was directly under the crust for 10-15cm. This can be seen in the picture.
Also, *lots* of east wind transport on Silver today.

1/7 ice crust 2-3cm. Finger for attention