Minor natural roller ball activity
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Sunburst
Toured to 3200′ on Sunburst via the standard up track
Observer Comments
Weather
Sunny with some high clouds
Calm winds
Temperatures in the high 40Fs at 1000' and in the mid 30Fs at 3000'
No precip
Snow surface
1000-1300' unsupportable melt freeze grains, boot pen full leg
1300'-1500' slightly more supportable melt freeze grains, boot pen to knee
1500'-1700' crushable melt freeze crust, boot pen just the foot part of boot
1700'-2000' crushable melt freeze crust with 1-3 cm of dry snow
2000'-3200' solid melt freeze crust with 5-15 cm of dry snow
Upper elevation dry snow was getting more and more damp throughout the day, minor skier triggered roller ball activity
The snow surface gained a sheen as the day processed. There was water dripping out of the mini cornice along the lower Sunburst ridge
Snowpack
Dug at 3200' on a SW aspect, 20 degree slope. 65 cm pit. 15 cm of dry snow (this is new snow from last night,10 cm on top of snow from Sunday 5 cm) on a 25 cm stout MF crust over more MF grains. The 15 cm of dry snow sheared easily in shovel tilt tests and produced a CT 13 SC x 2. ECTX and was non reactive in slope testing. This set-up could be triggered as wind slab in areas that are more wind loaded, steeper and unsupported.
Low elevation saturated snow 1200', boot pen was full leg at this elevation
Surface conditions 1400'
Looking for new glides on Seattle Ridge
Mini glide crack near skin track, the snowpack is starting to buckle below it.
Mini cornice fall near skin track
new snow/old snow interface and shovel tilt failure
Looking out to Pastoral and wind loading patterns
No more skiing to the car…
Surface conditions 1700'
Seattle Ridge natural wet loose avalanche