05 June Rainier Avalanche

No news on the trigger?

I read elsewhere that the avalanche may have occurred because of re-freezing, which definitely can happen ... but it's very rare.

Special avy statement was posted yesterday afternoon, although only a few more details on the incident:

www.nwac.us/forecast/avalanche/current/zone/7/
"Although only preliminary information on the recent avalanche accident on Mt Rainier has yet been received, it appears that the avalanche was a human triggered 3 to 6 ft deep hard slab, approximately 1 to 200 yards wide, and running about 1,200 vertical feet. Latest information indicates that the slide caught 11, buring or partially burying 4, one of whom remains unacccounted for at this time and is missing and presumed dead. Other climbing parties in the area were able to recover three of those who were buried or partially buried, two of whom suffered injuries necessitating airlift rescue from the site with the third able to walk out amid minor injuries."

We got a good view of the avalanche debris from the top of Little Tahoma later the same day. Though it looked recent, we didn't know exactly when it had occurred. It was certainly thought-provoking as the aspect on the Ingraham is similar to the upper Whitman Glacier. However, conditions seemed stable as we ascended -- firm snow and breakable crust with boot penetration of 1-8". Of course the slab fractured a meter down so who knows... I suspect that the steeper west aspects of Little T provide much less fetch than the summit slopes above the Ingraham resulting in less wind loading.  Regardless it is a good reminder to be careful on this cool and wet spring we are having!

Missing Mount Rainier climber identified as Olympia man

olympia.komonews.com/content/missing-mou...entified-olympia-man

For all TAYERS and others:

Please note that as of 130 PM today, with the exception of Chinook Pass and Sunrise (which rely on an as of yet to be revived phone line to Sunrise), all other 10-Day (archived) station data shown on the NWAC web site have now been corrected for the 0500, 6-5-10 to 0400, 6-6-10 time frame. We have revised the archiving methodology at NWAC so that this problem should not reappear in the future, and apologize for the resulting confusion.

However, be aware that sensors and stations may experience intermittent problems, and as a rule use common sense in applying data and always check out the parameter line near the start of the file that lists known problems with the data or sensors. Thanks for your patience...

Best, Mark Moore--NWAC

For all TAYERS and others:

Please note that as of 130 PM today, with the exception of Chinook Pass and Sunrise (which rely on an as of yet to be revived phone line to Sunrise), all other 10-Day (archived) station data shown on the NWAC web site have now been corrected  for the 0500, 6-5-10 to 0400, 6-6-10 time frame. We have revised the archiving methodology at NWAC so that this problem should not reappear in the future, and apologize for the resulting confusion.

However, be aware that sensors and stations may experience intermittent problems, and as a rule use common sense in applying data and always check out the parameter line near the start of the file that lists known problems with the data or sensors. Thanks for your patience...

Best, Mark Moore--NWAC

Thanks a bunch, Mark; we rely on these readouts daily.

FYI, some more information.

I feel sad for this young man's parents

www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/08/love-...ied/?partner=popular