Professional Observation

Basic Information

Observation Date:

March 5, 2022 - March 7, 2022

Submitted:

March 8, 2022

Observer:

WAC - Killian Sump

Zone or Region:

Southern Wallowas

Location:

Cornucopia, Norway Basin

Recent Avalanches?

Yes

Cracking?

Isolated

Collapsing?

None Experienced

This weekend, observed cracking on wind lips near ridgetops and shallow wind slab releases on SE slopes near tree line and above. As wind slabs became more stubborn, sunny days brought wet loose avalanches on steep solar aspects.

Stability Rating:

Fair

Confidence in Rating:

Moderate

Stability Trend:

Worsening

After a precip event early last week in which rain line rose close to the tops of the peaks in the Southern Wallowas, natural wet loose avalanches were observed. The storm finished cool, formed a stout rain crust as 2 inches of light snow fell on top. This caused widespread natural dry loose on steep slopes with the ‘dust on crust’ effect.

On Saturday, moderate to strong winds from the NW stripped the new snow away and back to the rain crust, and loaded Southern aspects at start zones. Intentionally triggered a 30 ft wide, 3 in deep windslab on SSE slope near an exposed ridgetop at 7,500 ft. Many other small isolated wind pockets were observed to have slid naturally on southeast aspects. Smaller wet loose slides were observed and experienced on steep SW slopes by mid afternoon Monday.

Beyond the smaller avalanche concerns, the snow surface in many places has been stripped back to the rain crust and makes for challenging riding and exposed conditions.

Advanced Information

Problem	Location	Distribution	Sensitivity	Size	Comments
Wind Slab	N E S W	Isolated Specific Widespread	Unreactive Stubborn Reactive Touchy	D1 D1.5 D2 D2.5 D3 D3.5 D4 D4.5 D5	Layer Depth/Date: 2-4 in S-SE aspects near tree line and alpine
Wet Loose	N E S W	Isolated Specific Widespread	Unreactive Stubborn Reactive Touchy	D1 D1.5 D2 D2.5 D3 D3.5 D4 D4.5 D5	Layer Depth/Date: -