Quick report
Could drive to TH. This was a big uncertainty due to storm and expected down trees. There were a couple boulders on Cascade River Road but easily passable. Sibley Creek Road to TH had signs of recent erosion but still passable in normal SUV clearance. We were in a guest’s rental Jeep Cherokee. Walked trail (skis on back) to 4200’. Skinned from there with some alder wrestling and one short section of booting through hard debris. Skinning became more straightforward above 4800. Ski crampons used above 5600 as could no longer punch through recent crust while skinning. Crust was supportable for skiing above 4600 providing smooth, sometimes loud, turns. Boot supportable above 5800
Weather
Few clouds most of the day provided beautiful scenery
Snowpack
0-5cm new snow (from tail end of 12/8 atmospheric river) with deeper wind drifted pockets on high north aspects Hs 70cm @4900 SW Hs 155cm @5700 NE
Avalanche
- Size
- D1.5 R2
- Type
- WS
- Aspect
- SW
- Trigger
- N
- Elevation
- 5100 ft
Most notable recent slides were 2 glide avalanches that paths converged to fill East Fork Sibley Creek (main climbing drainage). G-N-R2-D1.5 x2 Both originated on SW aspects near 5100 at ~40’ wide and ran down to creek at 4500. Less wet loose debris observed than expected.