12:00 pm- Overcast skies, light breeze from the SE, no precip
1:00 pm- Overcast skies, moderate to strong winds from the SE (at the base of Avalanche Peak), no precip
1:30 pm- Overcast skies, moderate winds from the SE (at the base of False Peak), no precip
2:00 pm- Broken skies with patches of blue skies, and light winds from the SE (at the Glen Alps Parking Lot). no precip
Observation: Chugach State Park
Location: Glen Alps Recreation Area
We went down Powerline Trail and up to the bench in between False Peak and the Wedge to gauge overall snow depth coverage and to monitor the Thanksgiving crust layer.
Weather
Snow surface
In most locations, the snow surface was wind-affected. Sastrugi, ripples, and wind deposition pockets were observed. When we were up at the base of the Wedge and the base of Avalanche Peak it was white-out conditions. We could not see more than a couple of feet in front of us. There were large patches of bare ground- especially on the bench between the Wedge and False Peak.
Snowpack
We did observe the Thanksgiving crust and a thin layer of facets at the base of the snowpack. Neither of these layers demonstrated propagation or showed any reactivity in our snow pit. However, we are still monitoring these layers and will continue to monitor them throughout the season.
Good stability, poor structure, and low propagation propensityWe dug one snowpit.
Snowpit information is below:
Location: Base of False Peak
Elevation: 2,500'
Aspect: SW
Slope: 17 degrees
Tests: ECTX
Powerline Pass
Common slide path on the NE face between Peak 2 and Peak 3
The Wedge
Wind scoured tundra beneath False Peak. Photo taken 1.12.24
