Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Pete's South

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Stayed in the trees on the far looker’s left of Pete’s South up to treeline around 2000′.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger No
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect West
Elevation 1700ftSlope Angle 35deg
Crown Depth 12inWidth 50ft
Vertical Run 100ft  
Avalanche Details

Small storm slab on a steep roll below treeline. The lower angle terrain next to it did not release after second skier descended.

Red Flags
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Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Moderate to heavy snow all day. Temperatures got warmer throughout the day but it stayed snow down to the trailhead at Johnson Pass (600 ft ish). Winds were light to moderate at treeline and transporting snow above treeline. Visibility was obscured.

Snow surface

New snow. About 10" over the Monday/Tuesday crust at trailhead. Gradually increasing to 12-14" at treeline.

Snowpack

We dug a pit at treeline around 2000' on a west aspect. No propagation in ECT, but we got an ECTN 9 on the new snow old snow interface (which is the interface that avalanched in our way down). The new year's crust was 90cm deep and total snowpack was 270cm.

Photos & Video
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