Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Falls Creek

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Hiked a dry trail the first mile or so before getting to enough snow to skin. Turned into the right bowl before getting to the lake. A lot of recent and old roller balls and wet debris on most aspects.

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)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

A lot of recent debris that appeared on almost all aspects of steeper terrain, appeared to come down from the rocks due to solar radiation. A much more notable pile of wet debris at the back of the bowl (see photo)

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

Partly cloudy sky. 41 at the car when we started around 10:30ish. 52 when we returned early afternoon. Noticeably cooler further back in the valley and especially in the shade/ sun behind clouds. Moderate winds when topping out of the north facing couloir.

Snow surface

Supportable crust in the bottom of the valley on the approach. Corn in the bottom of the valley on the out. About 3 inches or so of powder on top of a stout crust in the couloir (NNW facing). All powder went with the first skiers leaving behind an icy crust in steeper sections of the run. Thin crust on the curtain and in the shady parts of the valley.

Snowpack

No formal pit was dug. Hand pits showed an inch - 2 inches of newer snow on top of a thin crust layer, half inch - 1 inch than a burly crust layer. Handle of a ski pole could not penetrate the 2nd crust. Had to work a few extra kicks to penetrate on several portions of the bootpack.

Photos & Video
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