Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Anchorage Front Range

Date:

January 22, 2017 3:00pm

Observer:

G. Predeger Professional

Route & General Observations

Quick tour to look at snowpack structure and storm totals in S. Anchorage Front Range.

Red Flags

Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.

Obvious signs of instability

Recent Avalanches?	No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?	Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?	No

Observer Comments

Small localized whumphing from parking lot to about 2600'. A couple larger whumphs at 2700'.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.

Weather

12-15 degrees F. Snowing ~1cm/ hr most of the day. Snow tapered off around 5PM to clearing skies. Winds were nonexistent.

Snow surface

10-12" Low density powder. Not gonna take much wind to transport this weekends high quality snow and build wind slabs across southcentral AK. The Anchorage front range is no exception.

Snowpack

Dug in after larger whumphs at 2,700', found the culprit to be a very reactive layer of mid-pack facets below a stiffer slab. Several stability tests and 2 larger whumphs told me this will be our high point. ECTP9,11,12. All propagating, though not a lot of energy. Resistant planar.

Photos & Video

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Snowpit @ 2700'. Anchorage Front Range.

Location

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