Feb 02, 2010, Nisqually Chute
2/2/10
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2532
6
Randy and I arrived at the Longmire gate just in time for a 10:00 AM opening and reports of 4 inches of new at Paradise. Began skinning at 10:45 under clear blue skis and 0 wind but with warming temps. Were fortunate to be following fellow TAYers Carl and Terra who set an excellent track through the new snow. A little slabby at Pan point as we traversed one at a time to the summer trail. Above Pebble Creek the snow was shallower and wind effected, making for smooth up-track travel. Several point releases appeared mostly propagation from rock outcroppings, with one running all the way down the throat of Nisqually chute. Climbed in shirt sleeves to the top of the chute where we met up with Carl and Terra who were planning to ski to the bridge. Snow stability was good beneath the new snow which was beginning to settle and bond in the warming temps. The point release at the top of the chute had propagated into a fifty ft. wide slab about six inches deep and was the result of loading of the northeast facing rock bands on the west side of the chute. The first skiers down the left side caused no releases and only moderate sluffs and snowballs. We entered the chute through the rocks and I did a ski cut back to the east with solid results. We then continued down to skiers left of the slide path one at a time using the slide bed surface as a safe zone. Reaching the bottom we observed the debris deposition to be about 2 to 3 feet deep and confined to a narrow terrain trap. This 6 inch slab ran about 1500 ft. on a firm bed surface probably caused by strong upslope winds during past week.
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A few more inches on this surface could have been a potential large slide. Watch it this weekend if there is much new snow. The skiing was great down to Glacier Vista where we climbed out and returned to the car. A stunning day and a rare opportunity to ski the Nisqually chute in new snow.
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" /> A few more inches on this surface could have been a potential large slide. Watch it this weekend if there is much new snow. The skiing was great down to Glacier Vista where we climbed out and returned to the car. A stunning day and a rare opportunity to ski the Nisqually chute in new snow.
" />" />Hey Michael---looks like a beautiful day, good run, and good avy info. Cheers
Epic snow quality! Question: With the obvious and significant slide on the same aspect you skied...why did you ski it?
I'm really not fishing here but a ski cut shouldn't have countered the other evidence present.
-j
I'm really not fishing here but a ski cut shouldn't have countered the other evidence present.
-j
The point release at the top of the chute had propagated into a fifty ft. wide slab about six inches deep and was the result of loading of the northeast facing rock bands on the west side of the chute. The first skiers down the left side caused no releases and only moderate sluffs and snowballs.
The way it slid makes sense to me as there are two completely different aspects in around that chute. Thanks for the photos and info.
Hi Michael,
Nice TR, great pictures, thanks for the avalanche information. Glad to see you got out on such a beautiful day! :)
Gary and Jan
Nice TR, great pictures, thanks for the avalanche information. Glad to see you got out on such a beautiful day! :)
Gary and Jan
author=savegondor link=topic=15467.msg64737#msg64737 date=1265326055]Well, that's a good question and one we asked ourselves often as we climbed. There were several factors which made our decision to ski the line. The general stability of the upper snowpack in general this winter was the factor which allowed us to consider steep, exposed lines in the first place. So the main concern was the consequence of a release of the new snow, its cohesiveness and its bond to the existing surface. The new snow had fallen overnight with moderate(25 mph) SW winds. The Nisqually chute is actually a bowl with aspects from SW to NE. The NE aspects were loaded with about six inches of slabby snow and that is what released. It appeared to be a point release off a rock band which propagated across the slope about 50 ft. and than ran down the throat, entraining the loose surface snow on the way. The slide looked bigger then it was but was definitely more than an ankle bitter. We tested the S facing aspects which only had 4" of loose unconsolidated, well bonded snow. The other fact which I considered was that the slope had already run and the slide path would be a relative safe zone. While skiing, I turned out onto the bed surface and back into the new snow. I felt the highest risk was near the bottom third of the chute where a natural release of a new slab above could gather quite a bit of snow and possibly result in a burial (albeit a shallow one). This section we skied pretty fast and stayed high on the east shoulder of the terrain trap at the bottom of the chute. In the end, the risk was calculated and the results supported it. Sometimes, that isn't the case but this is a risky sport anyway you look at it. Risk keeps you young.
Epic snow quality! Question: With the obvious and significant slide on the same aspect you skied...why did you ski it?
I'm really not fishing here but a ski cut shouldn't have countered the other evidence present.
-j
Nice...thanks for the tr and of course the pictures!
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