No current signs of instability were observed, only evidence of a very large avalanche that likely occurred near the end of Holiday storm cycle. Debris was covered in wet snow and became harder to identify as we gained altitude. The damage from surrounding trees in the entire bowl was the most obvious sign that this avalanche was very large and destructive.
Observation: Girdwood
Location: Raggedtop East Bowl
Skinned up the East bowl of lower Raggedtop from Crow Creek Rd. Found debris, broken trees and buried alders as low as 1700′. The debris was covered in wet snow and appeared to be old, likely from the end of the Holiday storm cycle. The crown was no longer visible, likely filled back in with 2.7″ of snow water equivalent recorded in Girdwood Valley over the weekend.
Observer Comments
Weather
Overcast
No precip
light winds
~32F
Snow surface
1000-1700' - wet, well drained snow
1700'-2500'- soft breakable crust w/ wet snow below
At 2500' - 2600' 1" curst on dry snow below
Wet snow and newly forming crust indicated rain/snow line fluctuated between 1800' - 2600'
Snowpack
Turned around at moraine pile at about 2600' and did not dig a pit due to never getting off of debris.
Debris was covered in wet heavy snow and was more difficult to see as we gained altitude. +10" of snow covering old debris at 2600'. At 1700' where mostly rain has fallen this week debris was still easy to identify.
Trees as large as 10" in diameter were found broken in debris, ~1750'.
An area normally covered in 10' high alders and Mountain Hemlock.
Many Hemlock trees that survived the slide have been ripped of their uphill branches
View looking downhill from the moraine knob at 2600'. This area is usually thick with small Hemlock that are now buried or destroyed.
View looking down at Crow Creek Road and subdivision. Picture was taken just below debris
Debris was not visible from Crow Creek Road
Estimated debris pile. Crown was not visible due to recent new snow and wind. Google Earth Imagery is from 2012.