Snow transport.
Old debris and crowns still visible from the recent large natural ax cycle
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Bertha Creek
CB > GDC.
Observer Comments
Weather
Synoptic pattern of NW winds as evident from snow flagging off high peaks. However, much of Turnagain was spared. Terrain funneled the wind. Light/moderate SE wind at mid-elevation on CB (ever so slightly transporting snow), calm at ridge top (12:30pm). Westerly moderate wind at 4500’ on GD peak, transporting snow (3:30pm).
Clear skies + sun!
Snow surface
Overall soft, but variable.
Powder in protected places.
Dust on supportable crust in other places
Relatively soft + breakable sun(/wind?) crust on CB.
Top of GDC was smooth + pillowed + (previously?) wind loaded, we snaked around to be safe.
Snowpack
A faceted layer 20-40cm down repeatedly failed in hand pit tests on west side of CB, various elevations. The force needed for failure was generally correlated with the buried depth, from easy to hard.
No Buried Surface Hoar identified.
We tried not to think about the sleeping dragon.
Small Anti-tracks and trenches on Magnum. Bonus points if you can spot the sluff.
Large cornices and snow transport in the distance.
Snow transport of Southern Seattle Ridge at 4:30pm.