Major Snowslide at Snoqualmie Summit East

A major snowslide occurred earlier today at the Hyak area (Summit East) of the Snoqualmie ski resort as a result of heavy rains destabilizing the snowpack. In addition to the resort itself, two homes at Chamonix Place were hit by the slide. We haven't found any reports of injuries. Luckily, the resort was closed today due to the weather.

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By Jack in News on January 7, 2009 4:07 PM

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RMH

Interesting. This is the first I've heard of the term. It makes sense, though.

Jack

@3 RMH: When I first heard about this from WSDOT, they called it a landslide. Others called it an avalanche. KOMO called it a snowslide--which is probably the most appropriate of the three.

I think for it to be an avalanche it would have to have occurred because of two different snow conditions (i.e. heavy, wet snow on top of weak, unstable snow). In this event all of the snow came down.

RMH

What's the difference between a snowslide and an avalanche?

Weazul

oh missed the photos in the actually link..

Weazul

the photos are amazing... looks like a run might be out of commission

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/3177302991/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/3178478104/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/3178477942/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/3177642935/sizes/l/

king 5 also has a good gallery

http://www.king5.com/perl/common/slideshow/sspop.pl?recid=13888&location=www.king5.com