| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Chugach State Park
Location: Lower McHugh
Wanted to get a few turns in considering the wind and loading, stayed low angle.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Unsure of whether there were any avalanches on P2/P3 area, coming back as it started to snow I did hear some louder noises that had no obvious source, but visibility was poor at that point. Shooting cracks isolated, but would have expected to see more on steeper slopes.
Weather
Started out with significant wind, coming down out of Rabbit Creek valley, SE. Gusting at least 30+mph and much more in open areas/higher. Temp right around freezing. After about 4hrs, wind died down to very light and it started snowing, new snow 0.5 to 2cm depending on location.
Snow surface
Wind slab on top, varying thickness, varying consistency, immediately below seemed to be a storm slab from the recent snow, 15-25cm depending on location.
Snowpack
Dug a pit for practice. Aspect NNW, 20° slope. Depth 170cm. ECTP11 (unstable result), failed around 148cm. Appeared to be storm slab failing on small facets. ECTN27 (stable result) around 130, fairly hard slab about 10cm thick.
ECTP11
Slab
Bed
Cracks forming when walking above pit
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Theodolite_2023.03.19_09.44.49_000022
McHugh 3-19-19-Mar