Avalanche: Chugach State Park

Location: Peak 4055 --> Bird Ridge Overlook

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

I skied up the Indian creek pass trail from the TH. Found a large gully without an alder barrier and headed up toward Bird ridge. I noticed the slide just to the north of where I was heading on Peak 4055. I skied right through the debris during my ascent and descent.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger No
Avalanche Type Hard SlabAspect South Southwest
Elevation 2800ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown Depth2ftWidth 300ft
Vertical Run 1000ft  
Avalanche Details

D3 triggered by a wet loose from last weeks warming event stepped down to an old snow basal facet weak layer. The gully was filled with anywhere from 5-15ft of debris and spread over a few hundred feet.

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

None in my travels

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Fog layer near the highway and in town. Mostly blue and calm with a few high clouds late afternoon.

Snow surface

A crust from the Indian creek trail head parking lot to about 2k. Then 6-8 inches of settled powder on a mix of soft spongy surface and some harder wind slab. Good quality skiing.

Snowpack

A fairly strong snow pack with a basal facet weak layer was found where I dug. Total depth was 99 cm at 2900 ft on a North aspect, no alarming results in my stability tests ECTX. It seems the snow pack has gained strength from wind and the lack of new snow load recently. Although there were 22 cm of facets on the ground in my pit.

Photos & Video
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