Observation: Turnagain

Temps: Mid to high 30's F
Wind: Moderate (10, g 25mph)
Sky: Obscured
Precip: Moderate precip
Rain/snow line: 1500'

1000': 10" of wet saturated snow with 8" puddles of water
1500': 10" of wet mashed potato sticky snow w/ an inch of drier snow on the surface (gloppy skinning conditions.)
2000' - 2350': 1-3" of new snow on 1" melt/freeze crust sitting on the St.Patty's Day Slab

Slab depths varied from 12-18". We dug a pit at 2350' and found a very poor structure of 4 Finger hard facets sitting below a 4F-1F hard cohesive slab. Out test results were very easy with high propagation potential. (ECTP1 (SC) and ECTV (SC)

Considering the snowpack history over the last week widespread collapsing and easy test results are no surprise. Several feet of new snow is now covering up last week's faceted snow that was created from a week of 0F temps. This weak layer of facets varies in density due to moderate winds that accompanied the cold snap. However these facets are widespread throughout Turnagain, Girdwood, Summit, and Portage, and could be reactive at all elevations and aspects. This faceted snow will be less developed on ridges that were left scoured before the St.Paddy's storm. Digging a pit in these areas might not be representative of the slope you are thinking of skiing/riding. This is a great reminder that obvious signs like collapsing or recent avalanche activity trump snow-pit data. These clues are the snowpack's way of saying; Stay away from steep terrain. In the upper elevations average slab depths are likely to be closer to 3' with leeward features up to 6' thick. Between 2000 - 2500' a layer of melt freeze crust has formed just below the surface snow and below 2000' the snow is wet and saturated. If/when temps drop below freezing mid-elevation snowpack should stabilize quickly as it freeze into a dense melt/freeze crust.