Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
Avalanche Type | Hard Slab | Aspect | West Northwest |
Elevation | 2400ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | 16in | Width | 400ft |
Vertical Run | 250ft |
A look at Seattle Ridge and the back bowls after the significant winds yesterday, Thursday 2.11.21.
Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
Avalanche Type | Hard Slab | Aspect | West Northwest |
Elevation | 2400ft | Slope Angle | unknown |
Crown Depth | 16in | Width | 400ft |
Vertical Run | 250ft |
Natural wind slab avalanche in Main Bowl (1st Bowl). Around 400' wide and crown face 1-2' in depth.
Several other natural wind slabs triggered by Thursday's winds seen. Many were blown in to some degree. The one mentioned above was the largest and most recent looking slab.
Mostly sunny
Light to moderate east winds. Some pluming and snow transport along ridgelines.
Temps near 20F
The snow surface is wind pummeled.... Winds have blown away much of the loose surface snow, not just into slabs, but away back into the atmosphere...
Wind slabs exist in pockets on many slopes, but there was more scouring than loading in this area.
We dug one quick pit under Jr's Run at 1,600'. Wind slab was up to a foot thick and sitting on buried surface hoar with facets underneath. Slab wants to fail on buried surface hoar and not facets in areas we poked around.
Top of Zero Bowl and up-track
Natural wind slab, Main Bowl
Wind effect in Main Bowl
Natural wind slabs on the road side SE face of Seattle Ridge
Natural avalanches seen over on Eddies
Jr's Bowl (2nd Bowl)
Pit at 1,600'. Widowmaker in the background
Glide avalanche across Seattle Drainage
Magnum West face
Poor snow conditions coupled with a sunny day makes for lots of good conversation!