A look at the Seattle Ridge side of Turnagain Pass.
Weather:
Clear and windy with a few clouds. Wind gusting moderate to strong from the West
on peaks and ridges. Many plumes and snow devils.
Signs of instability:
-Cracking in recent wind deposited snow.
-One collapse felt where pit was dug (2700ft NE, see picture below). We had a
hard time determining where this collapse took place. Most suspect was facets
below a thin crust existing ~12″ down and between the Nov 10 and 21 storm
interface. However, crust did not exist in pit 10-15ft away. (Alaska!)
Recent avalanches:
A few shallow foot deep D1-2 wind slab avalanches on Seattle Ridge (picture
below). All had an easterly component and were 3,000′ and above.
Snowpack: Lots of wind effect above treeline.
-Wind effected areas are anything from scoured to the ground to breakable wind
crust to 3′ deep hard wind slabs. Very variable snow conditions in these winded
locations.
-In sheltered areas with little wind effect the pack is essentially slowly
deteriorating into one very non-cohesive layer of faceted snow. Boot penetration
= snow depth, more or less. Similar to Kevin’s profile from Sunburst at similar
elevation on Nov 27th.
Observed hazard:
LOW with pockets of MODERATE for fresh wind slabs on upper elevation steep
slopes.
Natural wind slab ~3500' SE facing - likely from the increase in NW winds overnight on the 27th.
The wind having its way with the snow on Seattle Ridge.
Small wind slab that was hard to crack out - mostly due to terrain not steep enough and trees anchoring it in place.
Seattle Ridge - image 4