Partly sunny at 13:00 becoming mostly cloudy at 16:00, air temperatures 16-20 degrees F. Calm to no winds.
Observation: Chugach State Park
Location: Arctic Valley, Mount William Barrett
Skinned up to saddle northeast of Mount William Barrett,
Weather
Snow surface
Strongly wind affected snow on south, southeast, southwest, north, and northeast aspects throughout Arctic Valley area. Meter to 10s meter-scale pocks of softer snow (wind slab) interspersed with strongly scoured snow. Wind slab did not support weight of skier and collapsed while skinning.
Snowpack
Pit dug at 3,500 ft on southeast aspect in wind loaded area to assess wind slab hazard. Height of snow = 130 cm
CT5Q3 down 15 cm at interface between surface F hard snow buried 4F snow, surface hoar noted at interface. ECTN11 on this same interface. CT14Q3 down 100 cm at interface between 1F decomposing rounds and F hard facets, this interface did not produce a response in ECT test.
CT column after CT5Q3 down 15 cm results
CT5Q3 down 15 cm failed slab
Wind affect on Arctic Valley area