| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Girdwood
Location: Gentoo-California Ridge
Hikes up Abes Trail to the ‘Spilt”
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Upon approaching the top of the ridge there was a load collapse where the snow was windloaded and thus marked the end of our tour
Weather
25 F in lower Elevations, 15 F on the ridge
Snow surface
No snow to a trace up to main treeline, roughly 1500'-2000' facets, 2000'-2500' settled powder, 2500' to ridge wind crust, top of ridge was wind blown and loaded
Snowpack
Lower elevations had little to no snow. Once Hiking out of the trees and into the alders(around 1500') there was about 4"-8" of facets, increasing in depth as we got higher. After the alders(roughly 2000'-2500') snow depth increased to about 10", with a small settled powder layer on top of facets. 2500' to the ridge the snow depth slowly began to increase to roughly 2' with a wind crust on top, a consolidated powder layer in the middle, and an inch or two of facets on bottom. Multiple column tests from roughly 2000'up every 400-500' to the ridge all proved reactive but stubborn all failing on the 3rd or 4th tap from the shoulder.