Shallow wet loose activity on all aspects. More prominent on South facing slopes
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Goldpan via Bertha Creek
We sought out North facing terrain in the Alpine today
Observer Comments
Weather
Sunny and mild, no wind
Snow surface
Solid re freeze overnight up to 2,500’
2-3” settled powder on non solar aspects up to 3,300’
Numerous wet loose avalanches, mostly from previous days. One debris pile on S facing Cornbiscuit was big enough to injure or partially bury a person (large channeled terrain). Witnessed wet loose activity on the S facing wall in Goldpan, all small volume. Observed rollerballs and very small wet loose activity on NORTH side of Lipps. It seems like this has just begun and the sun is hitting the East and West sides of couloirs on North facing terrain. This solar effect will only increase as the sun makes its way further North.
Snowpack
We dug one pit at 3,300’ on a North Aspect on a lower slope in Goldpan.
High strength: test scores in the mid to high 20s
High propagation potential: low PST score, full propagation on ECTs and Sudden Collapse fracture character
Poor structure: dense slab sitting on weak loose facets within a meter of the surface
Summary - Our pit today shows the potential for avalanches to be triggered on N facing slopes to be deep and wide enough to carry, injure or bury a person. This info is in line with the recent activity we have seen or has been reported since March 31st.
Large cornices are looming in the Alpine
We are beginning to see the sun impact North facing terrain - very shallow wet loose activity observed on the North side of Lipps today
Pit dug at 3,300' N facing slope in Goldpan
Pit profile of the same pit
Cornice breaks that likely occured several days ago in PMS bowl.