Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Road Obs

Date:

March 17, 2015 4:48

Observer:

H. Thamm/Hutchins-Cabibi Professional

Route & General Observations

Recent Avalanche Activity observed from the Seward Hwy

Avalanche Details

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Trigger	Unknown	Remote Trigger	0
Avalanche Type	0	Aspect	Unknown
Elevation	unknown	Slope Angle	unknown
Crown Depth	unknown	Width	unknown
Vertical Run	unknown

Red Flags

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Obvious signs of instability

Recent Avalanches?	Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?	Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?	Yes

Observer Comments

Several Sun triggered natural D2 and D3 slab avalanches were observed from the Seward Hwy on both the East and West side of the Road. A remote skier triggered avalanche could also be seen from the Tincan Parking area. See Tincan Observation from March 17, 2015 for details about this incident.

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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Weather

30F-40F, Sunny, Light winds, No new precip

Snowpack

Several older slabs D2's on the western face of Cornbiscuit and Lipps were also visible.
A slab on the Northwestern shoulder of Sunburst at about 2300' looked fresh, but was visible at 10:30 am.
Several large crowns and piles of debris was also visible in the Elevator Shaft on Sunburst and Todds Run on Tincan, both Northern aspects.
Several D2, D3 avalanches were also seen in the Notch/Winner Cr area in Girdwood.

Photos & Video

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Picture was taken at 10:22am from the motorized parking lot of the East face of Seattle Ridge. Only one small slab avalanche was observed at this time.

2 additional slabs, triggered by the heat of the sun on the East Face of Seattle Ridge. Observed 40 minutes after the first picture was taken, at 11:02am.

View of Pete's South from Johnson Pass trailhead. Picture was taken at 10:50am.

View of Pete's South from Johnson Pass trailhead. 2 natural avalanches released during the day. Picture was taken 4:50am.

View of a remote skier triggered avalanche on Tincan (CFR.)

A natural D3 slab avalanche on the East Face of Seattle Ridge near Repeat Offender.

Throughout the day more slab avalanches appeared on the East Face of Seattle.

A view of the motorized side of the Turnagain Pass. There was roughly 16 or more inches on the ground.

Location

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