| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Chugach State Park
Location: Glen Alps - Powerline Pass
Did a loop from the Glen Alps parking lot, under Bluberry knoll on the northeast side to the pass trail and back again.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
We stayed on the lower slopes, checking out the new snow and wind effected areas. Poked around in the trees and meadows just above the Powerline trail and below Blueberry knoll. In one protected meadow, our party of 3 set off a large whumph. The Thanksgiving Crust was just 40 cm below the snow surface in that location. Further up, we saw a small natural slab avalanche and then were able to get additional cracking and small slabs to run on that same small test slope (see pictures).
Weather
Warm (36 F at the car), partly cloudy, with variable wind. Five to 10 mph for most of our short tour with a few gusts to 20 or 30. Lots of wind up higher and signs of snow transport off of the peaks. No new precip.
Snow surface
Mostly soft snow but wind affected pretty much everywhere. In protected tree areas, the snow was soft but dense. New snow from yesterday seemed to have settled out. Ski penetration was 20 cm, boot penetration was knee deep. No formal tests or pits, but TG crust was 65 cm down based on numerous pole probes.
Natural small slab avalanche on small test slope, likely from yesterday.
Shooting cracks on wind loaded test slope just above the small natural avalanche.
Northeast face of Flattop with wind drifts off the top.
Nice trees!