Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Arctic Valley

Date:

February 20, 2020 8:29pm

Observer:

John Sievert

Route & General Observations

Returning to parking lot at AV, near tube park when I felt a whumph and saw a crack open above me. Stopped to do an extended column test.

Snow was variable and wind affected, not great skiing.

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

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

New snow, signs of wind transport. Winds calm during tour. 28F.

Snow surface

Variable. Settled powder, wind crust, exposed melt-freeze crust.

Snowpack

ECTP-0 @4cm on boundary between wind slab and new snow from this week’s storms
ECTP-5 @20cm on boundary between 1” crust layer and unconsolidated facets.

SE facing 20-degree slope, ~2700’.

Photos & Video

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Crack observed uphill after whumph

Snow profile

Location

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