| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Girdwood
Location: Girdwood Alpine
Traveled ridges to alpine. 4,200’.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Had two large whumphs initiated from firm snow on ridges.
The second whumph caused a crack 50’ from the skier on the ridge which extended 150’. The snow had been wind stiffened. The crack was on surprisingly low angle terrain estimated less than 30 degrees.
Weather
Temps around 20. Light to moderate north winds. Sunny to broken skies with increasing valley fog throughout the day.
Snow surface
4-6” of fluffy new.
Some areas scoured to crust.
Some areas of wind stiffened snow.
Snowpack
No formal test. Discernible crusts and facets below new snow.
Sunshine, clouds, cracks
Crack
Crack triggered from ridge
Cracks on adjacent slope, possibly triggered by skier on ridge