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Forum Index > Trail Talk > Another avalanche death
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carlb328
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Joined: 28 May 2007
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Location: Yakima, WA
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PostWed Feb 10, 2021 10:28 am 
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Washington state trooper was killed in an avalanche while snowmobiling

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/us/washington-state-trooper-avalanche-death-trnd/index.html
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Randito
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Joined: 27 Jul 2008
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Location: Bellevue at the moment.
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PostWed Feb 10, 2021 11:01 am 
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Very sad -- fwiw here is a link to the NWAC forecast for that region for that day

https://nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/#/east-slopes-central/95935

Quote:

THE BOTTOM LINE
Dangerous conditions continue as significant snowfall and wind have added a heavy load and stressed older layers of weak snow.  Stay far away from and well out from under wind-loaded, open terrain 35 degrees and steeper. Consider avoiding avalanche terrain at upper elevations where you can trigger very large and destructive avalanches that could break widely across slopes.

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The new snow and strong wind will increase the chances for triggering avalanches 3ft to 4ft deep. Persistent slabs can propagate widely across terrain features and can result in very large and deadly avalanches. Stay well out from under any large open slopes steeper than 30 degrees, as they can be triggered from a long distance away or from below. Be alert to signs of instability such as shooting cracks, and whumphing collapses.

Recent observations continue to indicate that large slab avalanches can release on a crust from mid-January. These have occurred mainly on Northwest to Southeast aspects above 5,500ft. The Salmon la Sac, Icicle, and other areas on the southwestern edge of the zone could be favored for snowfall and could hold dangerous conditions on Sunday. While slabs are thinner and the danger may be less elevated in the Wenatchee Mountains, the avalanches will be similar. When the snowpack is this complex, keep your terrain choices simple.


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Strong winds will continue to transport the snow in open and wind-exposed terrain. Feel for wind stiffened or hollow sounding snow as you enter open terrain, and change aspects.  Any avalanche in the new snow could step down to deeper weaker layers and result in a very large and deadly avalanche above 5,000ft. Consider the terrain you're connected to and avoid steep, open wind loaded slopes. Stay alert to indicators of wind slab such as heavy snow drifting, shooting cracks and whumphing collapses. Small soft slab avalanches are possible on steep, sheltered slopes where more than 8" of new snow falls.

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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
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Location: Stuck in the middle
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Mid Fork Rocks
PostWed Feb 10, 2021 10:50 pm 
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Short NWAC video about the Knox Creek avalanche


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Mid Fork Rocks • flickr
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Pyrites
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PostWed Feb 10, 2021 11:02 pm 
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Wow.
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Chief Joseph
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PostThu Feb 11, 2021 1:07 am 
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I saw this on a few news casts on Spokane TV stations, but strangely they did not mention that he was snowmobiling. RIP.

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Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
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Kat
Turtle Hiker



Joined: 05 Oct 2003
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PostThu Feb 11, 2021 5:19 am 
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NWAC video indicates he had a fully inflated airbag pack frown.gif  and was still fully buried 4' under. They were riding snowbikes.  Condolences to the family.
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Schenk
Off Leash Man



Joined: 16 Apr 2012
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Location: Traveling, with the bear, to the other side of the Mountain
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Off Leash Man
PostThu Feb 11, 2021 6:04 pm 
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RIP Trooper

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Nature exists with a stark indifference to humans' situation.
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Forum Index > Trail Talk > Another avalanche death
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