Observation: Portage / Placer

Location: Skookum drainage

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Skookum Glacier to multiple valleys on south side of drainage. High point 3,300′ ish. One small natural wind slab.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

One small natural wind slab on East facing subridge on south side of Skookum drainage, ~3,000' in elevation. Estimated at 200' wide, 6" deep, running only around 100'.
*Wind loading by outflow NW winds at elevations above 2,000'.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Mostly sunny. Strong ridgetop winds from NW, snow transport and plumes widespread along ridgelines. Temps in the 20'sF.

Snow surface

4-8" of soft powder snow over a firmer wind effected base.

Snowpack

Only assessed the new/old snow interface. Around 10-16" of settled storm snow from the past two systems (last 5 days).

Pit: NE @ 1,200'
ECTP 13,15,11 all three tests failed 10" down on weak snow right at the new/old snow interface. Weak layer was a mix of stellars and near surface facets. Roughly 1" thick layer of near surface facets sits on a stout crust at this elevation.

Informal pit at 3,000', W aspect.
16" storm snow over weak older snow (no crust seen). Stubborn hand pit, much more stubborn that pit at 1,200'.

Photos & Video
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