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Wallowa Avalanche Center

Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
February 3, 2021
Submitted:
February 3, 2021
Observer:
WAC - Victor McNeil
Zone or Region:
Northern Wallowas
Location:
Wing Ridge-All Northern Wallowas

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 
Steady

Bottom Line

The bottom line is the structure of the snowpack is poor in the Northern Wallowas. It's like building your house on straw and then adding a concrete slab on top of it. We are dealing with a persistent deep slab problem, which has reared its ugly head a couple of times in the past week. There was a skier-triggered 6' deep slab in McCully basin (1/30), and another deep slab observed by a local snowmobiler near Big Sheep recently. We are not dealing with this problem in other parts of the Wallowas, Elkhorns or Blues. You may dig to the ground and not get any negative results in your snowpack tests. That doesn't matter, structure trumps all. All you have to do is find the trigger point, and boom you're dealing with a big avalanche.

Media

Skier Triggered avalanche McCully basin, N Wallowas
Skier triggered avalanche McCully basin
Photo from the N Wallowas from the 100 Hill Climb.

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