Atten: Hwy 20 Bike Riders Avy Warning

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Fun CH
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Re: Atten: Hwy 20 Bike Riders Avy Warning

Post by Fun CH »

Avalanche control work yesterday, most likely exposives dropped from helicopters. WSOT photos.
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This second photo shows the potential of Spire Gulley (above hairpin) to produce enormous avalanches and why some of BC skiers are leery of parking our snowmobiles in its path while we're out for a ski.

Only a few of us park down where the Avalanche control gun Tower used to be. Guess why?

In fact there has been an ongoing contentious issue between a few BC skiers and the commercial guides up there asking them to set a better example and not park underneath that slide path even when they don't believe it can slide.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
Contact:

Re: Atten: Hwy 20 Bike Riders Avy Warning

Post by Fun CH »

Here is why that avy warning was issued. You can see the first avy was already partially cleared and the one behind it waiting to be fully cleared. No way that would be survivable especially since most bicycle Riders don't carry Avalanche transceivers and shovels, standard equipment for Backcountry Travelers.

Best defense is to go early, keep an eye up looking into the avy path that you're passing beneath, stay to the far side of the hwy (creek side) and don't linger in an avalanche path, like for a snack. Oh and carry avy mitigation gear like shovels and transceivers, cross the path one at a time with a dedicated lookout.

In this week's report, the WSDOT mentions that this coming weekend might be the last weekend to bicycle the highway without cars.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CrlVydQLe40/
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
Fun CH
Posts: 1440
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:22 pm
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Atten: Hwy 20 Bike Riders Avy Warning

Post by Fun CH »

https://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/#/east-slopes-north

Northwest Avalanche Center

GENERAL AVALANCHE INFORMATION
EAST SLOPES NORTH
SPECIAL AVALANCHE BULLETIN
ISSUED Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 6:00PM
EXPIRES Saturday, April 29, 2023 - 6:00PM
ISSUED
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 6:00PM
EXPIRES
Saturday, April 29, 2023 - 6:00PM
AUTHOR
Dennis D'Amico
Avalanche Information
Weather Forecast
Observations
FORECAST DISCUSSION
The Northwest Avalanche Center in Seattle has issued a SPECIAL AVALANCHE BULLETIN for the following areas:

* WHAT...The first significant and extended warm-up of the Spring will lead to dangerous avalanche conditions. Mountain temperatures will stay well above freezing and freezing levels will soar to 12,000-14,000' over the next several days. This warm-up will follow several weeks of below normal temperatures and snowy weather. At mid and especially higher elevations, the snowpack has not transitioned to a more typical and uniform spring snowpack. The likelihood of wet snow avalanches and cornice fall will be elevated over this period. The warm-up will also lead to rapid snow melt at lower elevations, challenging travel conditions, and other non-avalanche hazards. This statement may be extended through Sunday depending on how the weather pattern evolves.

* WHERE...The Olympic Mountains, Washington Cascades and the Mt Hood area.

* WHEN...In effect from Wed 18:00 PDT to Sat 18:00 PDT.

* IMPACTS...Wet snow avalanches will occur over this period. Some of these slides will be very large and destructive. Natural or human triggered wet snow avalanches will include wet loose , wet slab, and glide avalanches, as well as cornice falls.

* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Backcountry travel considerations include:

1. Travel early in the morning during the coolest part of the day. Consider your return route and how conditions may differ on your way back to the trailhead.

2. If you see new or recent avalanches, avoid similar slopes.

3. Glide and wet slab avalanches are difficult to predict and may occur any time of day including well after the "heat" of the day has passed.

4. Plan your day to minimize exposure to areas where large avalanches can start, run and stop. On the volcanoes and higher peaks, very large avalanches can release from higher-elevation terrain and run thousands of feet downhill. Be aware of the terrain you're connected to even at lower elevations.

5. Cornice fall and snow can shed from steep rocks. Limit or avoid spending time under these hazards.

6. Creeks, crevasses, and buried rocks/cliff features become more hazardous as the snowpack weakens and melts out around them. Snowbridges can collapse without warning. Use caution where these hazards exist.

MEDIA
WEATHER SUMMARY
Issued on 2:52 PM PDT Thursday, April 27, 2023 by Robert Hahn
East Slopes North Thursday Night Friday
Evening Overnight Morning Afternoon
5000' Temperatures (Max / Min) 52 / 39 F 57 / 38 F
Snow Level 11500 ft 12000 ft 12000 ft 13000 ft
Ridgeline Winds SW 0-10 mph S 5-15 mph S 5-15 mph SE 0-10 mph
Weather Forecast Mild and mostly clear with thin high clouds mainly after midnight. Sunny and unseasonably warm. Very thin high clouds at times.
Precipitation (WE): Washington Pass 0 " 0 "
This information is provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and describes general backcountry avalanche hazard and conditions. It does not apply to ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation is conducted.
What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding--Nick Lowe
Can't talk to a man who don't want to understand--Carol King
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