Observation: Turnagain

Location: Seattle Ridge to 2700'

Date:

January 10, 2017 2:00pm

Observer:

Aleph Johnston-Bloom Professional

Route & General Observations

Skied up around snowmachine up-track to ridge between Main bowl and Mama’s bowl. Dug on Repeat Offender

Red Flags

Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.

Observer Comments

None observed

Weather & Snow Characteristics

Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.

Weather

Clear
Calm
Warm in upper elevations 30Fs
Cold at the truck 8F

Snow surface

Variable:
Wind crust/wind slab/sastrugi
Soft settled faceted snow
Exposed rimed surface hoar
Exposed rime crust

Snowpack

Consistently 1-1.5 meters of snow.
Faceting due to cold clear weather
New surface hoar disappears around 1500'
Did not find evidence of moisture in surface snow due to temperatures. Checked out a wind lip in the sun with a vertical face. Was not showing signs of melting on area that would have most direct sun.
Dug one pit on Repeat Offender, 2500', HS: 130, E aspect. 24 degrees. Buried surface hoar 25 cm below surface. Mostly 1F hardness throughout snowpack with exception of BSH and a slightly less stiff 1F- layer at 35 below surface (small facets, not remarkably different from surrounding snow but definite hardness difference and reactivity in CTs but not ECT.
Buried surface hoar CT 27 x 3, ECT N 24
Small facets. CT 15 x2, ECTX

Photos & Video

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