Avalanche: Douglas Island

Location: Fred Meyer Bowl

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Skinned between Wedding Bowl and Fish Creek Knob to top of Fred Meyer and over to Grand Central. Back up for one on the Fred Meyer bowl trees near the pass.

Dug pit on 1/2/20 at 30 degrees with ECTX. No activity on descent. Skied again on 1/3/20 at steeper terrain with activity; low energy point releases down to the recent rain crust at 40-45 degrees.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger UnknownAvalanche Type Dry Loose Snow
Aspect NorthElevationunknown
Slope Angle 40degCrown Depth 6in
WidthunknownVertical Run 50ft
Avalanche Details

Loose dry point releases from Grand Central propagating across steep slopes (40-45 degrees) on the rain crust. Some natural slides on steep terrain at bottom, many shallow releases low energy triggered during pruning descent.

Skied again on bowl trees and ski cuts triggered loose, slow point releases (pictured). Ran ~50 feet until ~35 degrees. ECTX with no activity one day before. More snow on top of crust/dry interface might provide enough energy at steeper slopes to run before consolidation occurs. No activity on skin up.

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

Recent snow, wind loading was minimal.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Mid 20's, consistent dry snow with cloud cover.

Snow surface

Dry snow. Rain crust ~4 inches down.

Snowpack

ECTX 1/2/20 at 30 degrees on N face.

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