Obvious Signs of Instability
Recent Avalanches-none observed
Shooting Cracks-no
Whoompfing-no
Weather
Temps in mid 20sF
Winds light out of North
Clear skies
Surface Obs
Snow line begins around 1,000’
Firm supportable crust 1,000-2,800’
Surface Hoar distribution
6-8mm @ 1,000-1,200’
2-5mm @ 1,200-2,800’, in pockets
Near surface facets exist in pockets above 2,500’ where a trace of new snow fell
early last week
Pit @ 2,800’
NE aspect
We revisited this site to see the extent of surface freezing over the last 4 days
On Jan 29th the surface crust was 3-4” thick
Today we observed the surface “crust” to be 70cm/28”thick
15cm of moist facets (2mm) sit below this “crust”
Seattle Ridge - image 1
The surface "crust" is a 70cm layer of dense snow with several ice lenses within the layer (photo K Johnston)
Pockets of surface hoar mixed with near surface facets exist above treeline (photo K Johnston)
No snow from Sea level to >1,500' along the Seward highway
Snow coverage looking down Seattle Creek towards the Girdwood Valley