Avalanche: Douglas Island

Location: Fish Creek Knob, Caudal Peduncle

Date:
Observer:
Ray Imel
Route & General Observations

Traverse from Quarry to Hunter’s Trail. Looking up onto FCK before the corner where you turn left to climb into the North Bowl, aka FredMeyer, the Coffee Pot… 12″ crown, 50′ wide 100′ long. Debris pile 1-2′ deep. Appeared to be fresh this morning.

Avalanche Details
If this is an avalanche observation, click yes below and fill in the form as best as you can. If people were involved, please provide details.
Trigger NaturalAvalanche Type Wet Slab
Aspect NorthElevation 1900ft
Slope Angle 35degCrown Depth 12in
Width 50ftVertical Run 100ft
Avalanche Details

New, heavy, wet snow on top of wind-blasted old snow. Crown below rock band in concave section of mini-bowl. Debris pile arrested before alpha angle. Still in avalanche path but only 2/3 of the way down.

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

Upsidedown snow fall, Wind loading from all directions, hollow sounds on wind stripped snow.

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

Strong enough wind to knock skiers over. Fresh fat flakes falling.

Snow surface

Variable, mostly unpleasant from a skiers point of view. Dry hard crust, breakthrough crust, heavy wet mank, punchy crust, kool-aid crust.

Snowpack

Traveling tests showed weak wet slabs.

Location