Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Eddies - Pro 2 course

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Group of four from AAI/AAS Pro 2 Course toured up Eddies to gather snowpack information and work on snowpit craft; objective was to target the PWL and assess how the new snow load may be affecting the current snowpack.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger No
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect West Northwest
Elevation 2000ftSlope Angle 35deg
Crown Depth 24inWidth 300ft
Vertical Run 500ft  
Avalanche Details

Skier triggered avalanche on intentional ski cut. No one caught or carried. Avalanche failed ~70cm down on BSH.
SS-AS-R1-D1.5-O

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?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Many natural avalanches observed on SW aspects of upper eddies, appeared to have cycled during storm. Many avalanches noted on Seattle Ridge, specifically below Gods Country. Unknown if these were natural avalanches or remote triggered by snowmachines; we started the day with little visibility but by end of day had excellent observing conditions.

Avalanche triggered on ski cut, 2000' on W face of Eddies, no one caught or carried. Debris ran ~500'. (SS-AS-R1-D1.5-O)

Whumphing noted with remote triggered avalanche on isolated terrain observed by group. Occurred ~20m away. (SS-ASr-R1-D1-O)

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

~30cm new snow observed. broken skies becoming clear throughout day. Calm winds. -2*C at 2000'

Snow surface

30cm new dry snow with windpressed snow on ridgelines.

Snowpack

Several snowpits dug on eddies with variable results.

Surface Hoar noted in all snowpits.

ECTP1 down 35cm on BSH.
ECTN25 down 65cm on BSH.
ECTN16 down 50cm. 1mm facets on melt freeze crust.

Photos & Video
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