Alpental March 4th 2014

Heads up please, we're going to close Alpental this afternoon (basically now) and it will remain closed through at least tomorrow day and nights shift as well.  VOLUMES of new snow, rising temps, rain into the snowpack; all make for avalanche hazard that is unacceptable.  Snow Safety has done a stellar job of keeping up with all the crazy input and stress.  Just please appreciate that starting avalanches is a much easier job than preventing them, and even keeping a strong hand on the designated resort doesn't provide much confidence when it comes to wet/loose avalanches. Anyone that was around for any of the big events ; Gold Creek, Kendall Ridge, Snoqualmie Mountain Phantom, and other historic events know that these can be quite destructive and they are VERY hard to forecast. We'll be blocking off the access to the main lot and up valley due to potential Snoqualmie Mountain hazard. Wise travellers will probably be avoiding our little box canyon completely.  Thanks /G

This topic has likely run it's course, but grateful thanks to everyone who helped out with the message and the avoidance. No two winters are alike but this one does seem abnormally compressed.  In hindsight the closure seems like correct option, better than a huge effort towards either an artillery mission or heli-bombing. Snow Safety has done some digging around the place, and WSDOT's lysimeter indicates drainage fairly well established through the snowpack. $tim may crunch some numbers to ponder if he gets a spare moment but for those who pay attention it's truly impressive how much water can be sponged up by a snowpack that builds as quickly as this one did.  Hazards have rapidly transitioned from the initial direct action, through the wet loose cycles and now it's almost a mid to late spring falling apart.  We'll very likely start strategizing towards a return to travel hither and yon, like we're more accustomed to. Remember to keep in mind impressive creep, glide and climax potential.  I know life seems to speed up as we get older but this season is ridiculous - I'm praying for an extended spring as a reward for our faithful enthusiasm. /G

well written and thanks a bunch.
b/c

Thanks for the info Gib. Was hoping this warm weather would at least alleviate the concern of the hard layers. But buy what crappy weather and what a strange winter.

Haven't had too much time to get into the data, but we've recorded about 10.55" of rain since 3/3/14 (WSDOT Study site). 4.86" have been recorded through the snowpack (recorded from our lysimeter) and there's been about 50cm settlement/melt. No recent avalanche activity, but sounds like Crystal has seen continued activity with their control efforts.

Additional point of trivia- we are close to 80" total precipitation since 10/1/2013

Thanks for the info. At what elevation is the study plot with the lysimeter?