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Observation: Turnagain
Location: Lips
Standard route up Lipps on South shoulder to look at surface conditions on a variety of aspects and steepnesses. A sun crust was present on all Southerly aspects and on steep SW aspects at lower elevations where temps have been warmer. There was a trace (5mm) of new snow covering surface hoar (4-6mm) at all elevations on W – N aspects. Surface hoar was not found on sun crusts, but was we did find near surface facets (caused by radiation recrystallization) along the entire South face of Lips above 2000′. In the afternoon the new snow was becoming moist, and was wet below 2000′ on S- SW aspects.
Observer Comments
Weather
Partly cloudy becoming overcast in the afternoon.
Very light flurries at times
Temps were in the 20F's
Winds were calm
Snow surface
5mm of new snow from overnight covered all surfaces
West to North aspects had 4-6mm of surface hoar under new snow
South aspects above 2000'had near surface facets on top of 1-3cm sun crust
The new snow on South aspects was becoming sticky by 3pm and at lower elevations it was more damp
Snowpack
We dug a pit at 3100' on the South face of Lips to look at the top 2 feet of snow. Snow depths at this elevation ranged from 200cm t0 260cm. HS at pit = 220cm, pit height=85cm. Tests: CT1 failed 3cm below surface, just below sun crust, CT14 failed 20cm below surface on near surface facets from the March cold clear high pressure. Snow below this was pencil hard rounds.
Needle like near surface facets found on top of sun crust on South aspects of Lips.
Below 2000' the sun crust did not have these needle like near surface facets- likely because temps have been warmer and the crust was more stout
By 3pm the new snow (5mm) was becoming moist and small roller balls were happening on S aspects
Snow pit at 3100' on South face of Lips
An old storm slab and sluff on North aspect of Pete's
By 2pm there were light flurries, but the sun was still out on South side of Turnagain Pass
Looking at East aspect of Seattle Ridge
On aspects where the sun hasn't formed a sun crust there was 6-10" of low density snow.