Baker BC - very reactive surface layer observation

^^Whoah....

Where exactly are those pics taken? For a non Baker regular, im trying to get an image of where you are say in relation to the base of Chair 8

Maybe a few more minor details....? Like where, when, natural or triggered (by whom?), etc. etc. etc. Not to mention, "titled" by whom?

Thanks.

mark

Maybe a few more minor details....?  Like where, when, natural or triggered (by whom?), etc. etc. etc.  Not to mention, "titled" by whom? 

I was wondering about this too. A little detective work quickly revealed the answers: right-clicking on the photos to "Open Image in New Window" showed the URLs which were from the Mt Baker Ski Area website. Visiting the snow report page (be sure to scroll down) found those two photos, along with a third photo and this text:

"Photos of the slide path of the March 15th morning avalanche from the Shuksan Arm wilderness area down into Rumble Gully. This slide is estimated to be a 100 year event. There were no property damage or injuries, but note the destruction of trees."



Some other interesting info on the snow report page:

"SPECIAL NOTICE: due to the warming temperatures and consequent significantly unstable snow conditions, MT. BAKER WILL BE CLOSED TODAY..

Once freezing levels have cooled back down to around 1,000 as forecasted and conditions have stabilized, we will re- open. Temperatures are expected to drop tonight, with yet another foot or more of snow possible for tomorrow.

With this continuous parade of storms, we have received an amazing 110 INCHES OF SNOWFALL in the JUST THE PAST 6 DAYS. March snowfall this month has already surpassed the amount of snowfall we received in the entire MONTH of March back in our World Record year of 98-99 so this has been quite a month so far!"

Well, actually, that last sentence is NOT TRUE: the ski area has received 159" so far in March 2012 (through this morning March 15) according to their website, but it got 194" during March 1999 (following 303" in February 1999). So this March is likely to surpass that one, but has not yet done so.

Thanks Amar.  I came back to post the origin of those photos and the opinion expressed about a hundred year event, but you beat me to it. 

Those don't look like 100 year old trees to me, but knowing the location I can understand why Duncan might want to present it that way.  Regardless, it must've been impressive.

Mark

Of course, the big daddy of all NW avalanches has to be the Grouse Creek slide of February 1990. The trimline was as much as 400 vft above the gully bottom. God knows how many acres were deforested in that one....

I would guess the bridge has been taken out again in this recent snow and storm cycle.

Yesterday's NWAC avalanche forecast ( www.nwac.us/archive/sabsea_2012-03-15-1051.html ) had this to say:

"A very large slide on Shuksan Arm just east of the Mt Baker Ski Area ran into Rumble Gulley mid-morning and overran the tree line buffer protecting the base of the Shuksan Arm Chair...depositing debris into the lower part of the run. This slide is reported as the largest ever witnessed in the area by the General Manager...who has been there for over 40 years and who is closing the area to prevent any accidents involving "sidecountry" exposure to the developing extreme danger. Due to very poor visibility, no estimates of the fracture depth are yet available."