| Trigger | Unknown | Remote Trigger | Unknown |
| Avalanche Type | Unknown | Aspect | Unknown |
| Elevation | unknown | Slope Angle | unknown |
| Crown Depth | unknown | Width | unknown |
| Vertical Run | unknown |
Avalanche: Chugach State Park
Location: Three Bowls-South Fork Eagle River
The APU Snow Science class traveled to the Three Bowls avalanche in South Fork Eagle River to document the slide and observe the snowpack. Students toured up to 2700’ and spent time on both sides of the avalanche track (S-NW aspects). The ski conditions were a mix of crust and corn however it is not recommended to travel to this area! The snowpack contained depth hoar with moderate strength, high propagation potential, and poor structure.
Avalanche Details
-The avalanche released on 03/25 as previously recorded HS-Nc-R3-D4
-Secondary avalanche released during mitigation HS-AHc-R1-D1
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observer Comments
Two large whumps were observed while traveling on a south aspect @2670’. The layer collapsed enough to create large shooting cracks and visibly dropped ~2cm.
Weather
Scattered to broken clouds, with warm temperatures up to 4℃, and calm to light winds.
Snow surface
Sastrugi, located on a W aspect, provided evidence for easterly winds, a rare occurrence for South Fork.
5cm of melt freeze crust on southerly and west aspects up to 2,700’
Very thin covering of melt-layer recrystilization facets (near surface facets) on W aspects.
Snowpack
3 Bowls: @2670’/S aspect/35° slope angle/HS 67cm/ @12:45
-PST 25/100 END @18
-ECTP11 SP @18
-Layer of concern ground to 18cm 4mm facets & depth hoar 4 lemons
-Layer showed moderate strength and high propagation potential with poor structure
- For full profile see picture
3 Bowls: @2500’/W aspect/25° slope angle/HS 125cm/ @14:45
-CT23 SP @ 38 on 4mm depth hoar
Depth hoar 18cm up
Student snow pit with S aspect
Image of crown
Avalanche track had steep flanks
Another angle of track
Snow Pilot graph of study pit