Observation: Turnagain
Location: Johnson Pass
Field Observations
Predeger/ Davis/ Keeler
February 16, 2013
Johnson Pass
Weather: Calm winds, clear though high clouds moving in by mid-afternoon.
Temperature increasing.
Older shallow storm snow avalanches observed in steep terrain.
No shooting cracks
No collapsing/whoompfing
25-30cm of right side up, low density snow from most recent storm. (Fist hard)
Pit results (Total height of snow = 190cm):
Elevation: 1900′
Aspect: East
Slope Angle: 33 degrees
Test results: ECTP30, PST 40/45 End. 45cm down, 1-2mm facets above upper most
crust that previous ECT failed on. (see video)
Tests do show the potential for a fracture to propagate though it took a
significant amount of weight/ pounding on the block to do so. I suspect that a
cornice/ skier or snowmachiner dropping into a slope could be enough to
influence this layer as this UPPER crust/ facet combo is only half a meter deep
in the Turnagain area.
All in all it was a glorious day to spend in the backcountry. There were a lot
of people out traveling, enjoying a day of sunshine in between storms.