Large and gaping glide cracks. We did not see any new glide avalanches today.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Seattle Ridge - Weather Station Mission
Snowmachined up to Seattle Ridge to both map snow surface conditions (in anticipation of the weekend’s approaching storm) as well as replace the Seattle Ridge anemometer (wind sensor).
Observer Comments
Weather
Overcast skies. Easterly winds ~10mph. Temperatures in the mid 20'sF.
Snow surface
Surface hoar has grown on all aspects and elevations on Seattle Ridge. Feathers anywhere between 3mm and up to 2cm in size sit along the ridgetops and cover slopes down to the valley bottoms. The surface hoar we saw today sat on a variety of surfaces: a 1cm sun crust on Southerly aspects, hard wind slab along ridgelines and on slopes, and lastly, on very loose faceting snow in between the harder surfaces.
With a new layer of snow on the way this weekend, we are setting up for some very touchy avalanche issues.
Finally the Seattle Ridge weather station wind information is back up and running
2 cm surface hoar along the ridgetop
Sun crust on Southerly aspects - with 3mm surface hoar on top
Graham Predeger takes a look at a large glide crack across Main Bowl (1st Bowl).