Professional Observation

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

Key Points

Today was one of those days when it was probably more pleasant to stay inside.  Or as a good friend and Ski Patroller on Mt Hood used to say “ Today is one of those days where you really don’t want to get off the groom!”

We went for a tour in the lake’s basin, leavening the trailhead under only light rain showers with periods of blue sky. Rain continued throughout the day picking up substantially as the day progressed. I was very glad to have 4 pairs of gloves today.

• On our ascent we noted saturated surface snow below 9000’ and only a thin layer of wet grains on top of mostly dry snow above 9000’ However the rain line seemed to be closer to 10,000’ for us during the day and we observed increasingly saturated surface snow above 9000’ along our descent.
• Unsurprisingly, the glopping was particularly awful today once we poked into the mid elevations.
• Travel was not much better for the way down. I would describe the descent with words like wet, schmoo, harrowing, punchy & sticky, and “particularly risky for your joints”.
• Along our descent we were able to trigger a few small wet slab avalanches near the surface on steep test slopes. These felt and acted like storm slabs but the upside-down nature of them was quite clearly from the rain on snow.
• Rollerballs were widespread
• Stability seemed to be decreasing quickly as the precip rates increased this afternoon.