Observation: Turnagain

Field Observations
Jan.22, 2015

Route
Seattle Ridge to 2800′

Weather
Temps: 23*F
Wind: Light (5-10mph)
Sky: Obscured
Precip: snow accumulation up to 1″

Obvious Signs Of Instability
Recent Avalanches-NO
Shooting Cracks-NO
Collapsing – NO

Surface Obs –
1000′: 1″ of new snow on 1″ of hoar frost on ground
1500′: 1″ of new/low density snow on crust
2000′: 1″ of new snow on 2-4″ of low density faceting snow on melt/freeze crust
2800′: 1″ of new snow on 4-6″ low density faceting snow on melt/freeze crust

Snow Below the Surface:
Pit at 2800′, NE aspect, HS=95 -110cm. Focused on top 15cm of snow pack. Found a temp gradient 3C in
top 15 cm of snow (went from -7.5C between two thin knife hard ice crusts to -4.5C just below surface.
Air temp -3.25C. Snow between the two ice crusts was composed of facets (0.5-1mm.) Snow above the
upper most ice crust was Fist hard with a mix of facets and decomposing particles. Below lower ice crust
was a stout melt/freeze crust with varying layers of ice crust, and melt forms, moist melt forms near the
ground. See photo diagram for details.