Turnagain Pass

The snowpack in the advisory area remains touchy and the hazard continues to be elevated due to the slab, 10-20″ thick, sitting on a weak layer of faceted snow. This weak snow rests either on the ground or overlying a melt-freeze crust near the ground. This is not a set-up that will stabilize quickly, i.e. persistent slab. As the slab becomes more cohesive it may actually become more consequential. Yesterday the snowpack was “talkative” and observers noted many whumpfs, shooting cracks and some remotely triggered avalanches. These are all red flags.  The snowpack is clearly saying, “Hey, I am unstable!”  Step off of the skin track once in while and if you hear or feeling something let your group know. Triggering a slab on steep terrain remains likely, especially in leeward, wind loaded areas. Collapses (whumpfs) may propagate failure over large pieces of terrain and remotely triggering an avalanche is possible. This means you could trigger an avalanche from below while putting in a skin track. Eddies and Seattle Ridge both have this potential.  Many slopes have slid but that doesn’t mean that the ones that haven’t, won’t. Steep slopes with cracking on them may still release. Be aware of runout distances and terrain traps. Overall it is still fairly shallow and rocky, and getting caught in an avalanche could take you for a very unpleasant ride. Staying on slopes less than 35 degrees will be crucial in terrain choices today. In addition pay attention to other groups in the area. Where you step may cause an avalanche in steeper terrain onto another party or you may expose yourself to another groups remote trigger. 

 Small avalanche remotely triggered yesterday by stepping off of the skin track. 

Avalanche triggered remotely by snowboarder on the adjacent slope. Photo: Mike Ausman

Avalanches in a gully feature, Tincan Trees. 

In wind exposed areas of the alpine the new snow/old snow interface is more variable, and wind slabs may have formed in places without weak faceted snow underneath. These wind slabs are likely isolated, 1-2’ thick on leeward features below ridge tops. Wind slabs could be soft or hard depending on exposure to winds and if triggered could release a larger persistent slab lower down on the slope. Today is not the time to be pushing into steep terrain. Avoiding slopes greater than 35 degrees is recommended.

Avalanches off of CFR and the ridge below in leeward terrain.