Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Glen Alps, Chugach Front Range

Date:

December 8, 2021 2:00pm

Observer:

Joe Kurtak

Route & General Observations

Skied from Glen Alps PL up the NE aspect of Blueberry Knoll to 2650ft, then followed ridgetop SE to the Wind Tunnel canyon overlook. No sign of recent avalanches though visibility was down to 1/4 mi at times.

Red Flags

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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

Snowing on an off during tour, S-1 <1inch accumulation. At times viz down to 1/4mi. At 1400 at 2600ft was 7F with calm winds.

Snow surface

In flat SE of Glen Alps PL found 20 cm loose new snow from 12/7 storm event overlying a firm 45cm base. On Blueberry Knoll ridgetop found mixture of wind board and sastrugi interspersed with Halloween M/F crust. New snow from recent storm must have been transported off ridgetop by winds during and just after the 12/7 storm event.
Observed no signs of recent avalanche activity.

Snowpack

Did pit on south aspect of Blueberry Knoll at 2606ft and 50ft below ridgetop. See attached. TSD = 66cm. Top down: STV@30cm, STH@10cm, CT21@30cmQ2, ECTN23@30cmQ3. Reactive layer at 30cm appears to be wind slab overlying M/F crust transitioning to facets.

Photos & Video

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profile from pit on southern aspect of Blueberry Knoll.

Location

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