One whumf at 2,000' - stopped and dug, 4-5" of weak old snow near the ground collapsed
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Seattle Ridge
Seattle Ridge up-track
Observer Comments
Weather
Partly cloudy with valley fog. No precipitation. Temps in the mid 20's F. Winds calm.
Snow surface
Crazy snow storm last night.... 12" low density snow in the DOT weather station parking lot but only 6-7" on the ridge. We are quite sure that this is true despite the winds. There was minor to moderate wind effect on Seattle Ridge but looking across to Magnum and Sunburst it seemed they got less snow and more wind - scoured ridges.
Snowpack
Storm snow seems to have bonded well with preexisting surface at treeline and below.
Lower elevations - 1,900': Bottom 4-6" of snowpack has patches of weak snow near the ground
Top of treeline - 2,300': Weak layer of facets and buried surface hoar from Nov 16th. This layer was 18" below the surface. See video
Natural avalanches from last night's snow and wind in Todd's Bowl, Tincan
Weak snow on the ground at the lower elevations. This sits under the mid-Nov snow and last night's snow.
Cracking in the alders
Sunburst and Magnum look a bit wind scoured
Finally getting enough snow to ski - hoping for more soon!
Todds