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what is the Avalanche danger @ Muir this wknd?

  • snbdman
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16 years 10 months ago #186784 by snbdman
Buddy and I are planning on overnighting at Camp Muir tomorrow night, and what I am reading in the most recent avalanche report from the NOAC is bothering me.

Since this is my first time going above Paradise at this time of year I was hoping to get some input from the community of what they thought about the potential for avalanches in the area above Paradise this weekend.

Just looking for opinions.

thanks

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  • Gary Vogt
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16 years 10 months ago - 16 years 10 months ago #186788 by Gary Vogt
FWIW, here's what I saw going to Cowlitz Rock Thursday; things could be different if they get much snow today.  Horrible breakable suncrust in the morning between about 5-6000' that became more supportive higher up.  From about 6500-7500' there was shallow breakable sastrugi that didn't soften much; upper Paradise Glacier near Muir looked strongly wind affected.  Descending in early afternoon, the breakable crust on west faces below 6500' had softened to 2-4" of mush, with deep mush on south facing slopes by the time (2 PM) I reached the Valley Rd at 5200'.  Lots of small wet slides on all aspects steeper than about 35* (even northerly in the Tatoosh) below 6500' triggered by sluffing from trees & rock outcrops, also minor cornice collapses.  That was with temps in the low 50's after an overnight freeze.  Sunday's forecast is warmer, so I'd recommend great care descending Panorama Point & doing it as early as possible, certainly before noon.

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  • snbdman
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16 years 10 months ago #186790 by snbdman
Thanks for the information vogtski.

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