Heads up for Avy danger this weekend

[Dru]

danger this weekend!

[philfort]

WOW Weather

 

Put out by Mike Fagin and company. IMHO, he does a fantastic job predicting mountain weather- superior to the local newsies.

 

-L

 

I don't see those snow totals anywhere on that site... last update was a week ago? Am I blind?

[JoshK]

If there is really 18" at higher elevations I am certainly glad...the glaciers need all the help they can get in the struggle against BushCo.

[CascadeClimber]

Subscribers get two updates a week by email.

[klenke]

If there is really 18" at higher elevations I am certainly glad...the glaciers need all the help they can get in the struggle against BushCo.

You're starting to sound like catbirdseat, Josh.

 

BushCo screwed you. Get over it.

[JoshK]

Yup, BushCo screwed us all. NEVER FORGET.

[Dr_Crash]

Always a good idea to check the Avalanche center blog. And to contribute to it after your trips! Turn all years is a great source too. And competent friends are the best (and you learn from them).

 

drC

[Fairweather]

Damn! We have plans to climb Stuart/Sherpa Glacier Sat/Sun. Now scrambling for more info or a solid "plan B".

 

Skiing on Ruth Mtn this Monday, anyone?

[To_The_Top]

Haha FW, on to plan C here.....

Possible interest in Ruth.....

[klenke]

Avy danger? What avy danger? There is no avy danger in Klenke's element. You've just got to lower your elevation expectations and stick to the brushy sub-peaks. That's what I'll be doing this weekend...until/if I make yet another attempt at that pesky Cashmere Mountain on Sunday.

[JoshK]

I got a first hand report from my friend who was up guiding on shuksan this weekend. They were camped somewhere midway up the sulfide glacier (so about 7k I would guess) and he said they had got 14" of new when they packed up to leave.

 

FW, have you tried to find any info on what fell on the east side of the crest? I have plans for mon/tues a bit further east and I'm wondering if they got any significant dumpage.

[Gaper_Jeffy]

Edit to add: For those that have gotten out this weekend can you post your snowpack stability observations. I'm debating whether to ski South Sister on Monday.

 

NWAC has issued a special statement:

 

4 PM PDT Friday 28 May 2004

 

***INCREASED AVALANCHE DANGER EXPECTED OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND,

ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER RIDGES AND CASCADE VOLCANOES ABOVE 6 TO 7000

FEET***

 

A combination of recent new snowfall, strong ridge top winds and

unusually low freezing levels is likely to have deposited

significant amounts of new snowfall above about 6 to 7000 feet in

the Olympics and near and west of the Cascade crest. More

snowfall is expected in showers later Friday afternoon and

evening, with slightly and briefly rising freezing levels,

further strong winds and light to moderate rain or snow expected

mid-late Saturday into Sunday. This should be followed by more

showery weather later Sunday, and gradually rising freezing

levels, decreasing winds and some partial clearing on Memorial

Day.

 

As a result of the current and weekend weather, wet snow or slab

avalanches should be likely at higher elevations. Deeper slabs

are possible on lee slopes primarily southeast to northeast

exposures above about 6 to 7000 feet. The new snow should also be

very susceptible to sun effects and daytime warming on most slope

aspects. At this time of year significant new snow may quickly

become unstable when sun or warming effects can quickly warm,

melt and weaken new snow. Weakened snow may release naturally

from cliffs, rocks or trees, which may in turn trigger avalanches

on slopes below. While initially small, such slides may entrain

considerable amounts of wet snow as they descend or trigger

isolated slab or wet slab avalanches.

 

We would like to remind climbers and other back country

enthusiasts to keep a close watch on snow conditions. Wet snow

avalanches should be likely over the weekend. A good way to judge

snow stability is to push or try to move snow on test slopes or

from the top of slopes without a danger of avalanches from above.

Slopes that are relatively stable in the early mornings should

not be assumed to be stable later in the day. Other weather

conditions are possible through the weekend such as local

whiteouts, intermittently strong winds, and blowing snow.

 

This statement will be updated as conditions warrant.

[To_The_Top]

Ya, theres atleast a foot or more out there today of heavy new snow very poorly bonded over the old snow above 5,000 feet (Alpine Lakes area).

[Jens]

And ...reports of snow falling on pavement at I-90 snoqualmie pass very very early this morning. (or at least that is what the morning news said.)

 

I'd put my chips on that we are looking at 18" or so of new snow and elevated avy danger at popular destiantions (like lets say any given Rainier climb-which a lot of people have on their minds at this time of year).

Be careful out there.

[JoshK]

If somebody went further east this weekend and knows how much fell over there I would love to hear. I was thinking specific in the entiat and chelan mountains. Are they far enough east that they probably wouldn't have received the brunt of this storm?

 

-josh

[Fairweather]

I got a first hand report from my friend who was up guiding on shuksan this weekend. They were camped somewhere midway up the sulfide glacier (so about 7k I would guess) and he said they had got 14" of new when they packed up to leave.

 

FW, have you tried to find any info on what fell on the east side of the crest? I have plans for mon/tues a bit further east and I'm wondering if they got any significant dumpage.

 

No more info than I had when I decided to bag out. Sorry. I'll be packing my skis up to Ruth Mtn for a day trip on Monday. Hope it's not too sloppy. The weather is supposed to be decent, though.