Wet loose point releases caused by warming from the sun on Southerly aspects
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Magnum
Ascended Magnum from the SW aspect via PMS Bowl, but further W than normal uptrack route to avoid being under extremely large cornice features. Dug a pit at 2550′ and found several density changes within top 50cm (2′) and tests did not reveal propagation potential in top 145cm of snowpack. The cornices along Magnum ridge were very large and one had a crack extending its full length. The afternoon sun was causing roller ball point releases on steep Southerly slopes and could hear water dripping from cornice features along ridge. Could see a very large glide cracks on the SW face and shoulder of Cornbiscuit.
Observer Comments
Weather
Sunny, no clouds
Low-mid 30's F
Winds were calm
No precip
Snow surface
1000'-1500' 1-3" of wind drifted snow on a dense crust
1600-2000' 3-6" of wind drifted snow on 1" breakable crust
Above 2000' - ski/boot pen ~20cm/30cm
Snowpack
Handpit at 1880' - 1-3" on a 1" breakable crust over dry snow- found a wet layer of snow 14" below surface
2550' - HS=350cm, Pit Height=145cm, SW aspect, 26*slope, Found several density changes 4F/1F hardness changes within top 50cm, all weak layers were decomposing fragments. No persistent grain types and tests did not produce propagation. See pit diagram for test results.
Magnum Ridge Cornice - Skin track is difficult to see how large the cornice is if ascending from the NW shoulder.
Large cornice crack on Magnum Ridge
Pit at 2550' on a SW aspect of Magnum
Very large glide crack on the SW shoulder of Cornbiscuit - view from the Seward Hwy.
View of glide crack on SW shoulder of Cornbiscuit - as seen from further South near Bertha Creek
View of more glide cracks on SW face of Cornbiscuit
Sun triggered point releases on the SW face of Pete's South
North Chutes of Cornbiscuit
Side view of Cornice at 3400' on Magnum, looming over PMS bowl.