Observation: Turnagain

Location: Sunnyside

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Route: standard up track to Seattle ridge from the weather station parking lot
Weather: lightly snowing with little accumulation. Visibility ranged from decent to completely flat
light. Temps in the 20s, light winds.
Obvious signs of instability: collapsing on ridge

Toured up Sunnyside and then over to the NE facing ridge that is above Warm Up Bowl. Skied down
the ridge hoping to ski a steeper tree run. Dropped down to investigate the run and had a nice
collapse just as we dropped off the ridge proper. Dug a pit on a 35 degree slope and had a clean
shear on the 11th tap. Failed about 14″ down on the surface hoar. Put skins back on and on the way
back up to the ridge had another collapse. Then skied 2 NE facing runs on lower angle terrain and
had great snow and stability.

Later that day we watched 4 people ski the same run we backed off with no results.

Followed this with a few short (due to brush) E facing runs in excellent snow. Were able to ski to and
from the car with no walking!!!