Glide cracks.
No signs on instability within the snowpack in the area we traveled.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Seattle Ridge
Quick trip over to the motorized up-track on Seattle Ridge to take stock of all the carnage of glide avalanche debris. There is significant debris covering the main up-track and riders are taking alternate routes. Even though much of the snowpack has avalanched on this slope (Repeat Offender), there are still cracks and areas that have not yet released. We took a quick look around from the ridge itself and didn’t see any signs on human triggered avalanches. There is only around 8″ of new snow and old tracks are not very well covered up.
Observer Comments
Weather
Cold (-10 to 0F)
Sunny!
No wind down low and just a light NW breeze on the ridge.
Snow surface
8" of new low density snow from Sunday night/Monday.
Not very wind effected, surprisingly. Old tracks can still be easily seen under the new snow.
Snowpack
We only dug one quick shallow pit to look at the interface between the new and old snow. It was at 2,400' on a northerly aspect above Main Bowl.
No instability seen, just 7-8" of very loose snow over slightly harder old faceted snow. We looked for surface hoar at the interface but could not find any.
If the wind does pick up tomorrow (Thur), there is ample loose snow to drift into slabs.
Repeat Offender slide path with many glide releases from over the past week. The up-track has been covered in large chunks of debris and an alternate route can be seen on the right.
Wide angle view of Repeat Offender and the many other glide avalanches and cracks that still could release.
Only 10" of new snow fell on Jan 29 that has settled to around 8" over the past two days. Faceted snow sits underneath but there is not quite enough new snow to make avalanches.
Main Bowl and the Widowmaker slide path with Pyramid Pk in the background.
Big Chief and other peaks on the west side of Seattle Creek. Shallow new snow slab and a couple glide cracks can be seen if you zoom in.