Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Glen Alps - Blueberry Knoll, Chugach Front Range

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Left Glen Alps PL at 1330 and skied along the flats below the NE aspect of Blue Berry Knoll. Climbed the NE slope and over the top of the Knoll. Skied back to the PL via the NW aspect of Blueberry. Did not observe evidence recent avalanches and felt no snow settlement.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Observer Comments

None observed

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

Mostly cloudy with the occasional ray of sunshine breaking through. At 1430 was 30deg with ESE winds@10-15. Ridgetop winds were gusting to 20mph. Observed snow transport on McHugh Ridge by N winds (pic).

Snow surface

Snow surface
On the flats found a 1 cm-thick combo melt/freeze and ice crust overlying 60cm of mostly loose snow. Felt like I was skiing across a bed of potato chips as the crust shattered under my skis. Crust probably related to the rain event of last Sunday night through Monday. No whumping on flats. Ridgetop snow rock hard with melt/freeze glaze on top. Had trouble getting my climbing skins to grip on the way up (pic).

Snowpack

Did a pit on the NE aspect of Blueberry at 2432ft (profile attached). SA = 28, HS= 70cm. MF/ice crust overlying various density small rounds underlain by very rounded facets. Crust broke and slid on ST shovel insertion. Not bonded to underlying 4F rounds. Got CT24Q2@50cm down. Broke on 1F rounds overlying F rounding facets. ECTX.

Photos & Video
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