Observation: Chugach State Park

Location: Ptarmigan Peak, North Face, S-couloir

Date:

January 18, 2019 3:00pm

Observer:

Alan Abel

Route & General Observations

Descended S-couloir on Ptarmigan peak

Red Flags

Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.

Observer Comments

Nothing observed

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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Weather

Clear, calm, mild temps

Snow surface

Various forms of wind impacted snow. Soft slab to impenetrable hard slab.

Snowpack

Attempted a couple hand pits, the common theme was pencil wind slab on top of pencil to 1F sugary snow. The snow pack was so stiff it was hard to get down more than 6 or so inches. See photo of the couloir, it tells most of the story.

Photos & Video

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Descending S-couloir, this stiff wind effected snow is the dominant theme for the length of the couloir

Location

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