| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Tincan
Tincan to 2500′
Evidence of recent wind slab avalanches both human triggered and natural. All likely occurring yesterday when winds were stronger and slabs were more tender
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Several small D1 slabs on Tincan just above treeline in small terrain features, northern aspects, several tracks ski tracks near by - may have been human triggered.
Natural avalanche activity:
D1.5 on the northern shoulder opposite of CFR on Tincan
Debris on Todds run - northern aspect of Tincan
Debris in Elevator Shaft on North side of Sunburst
D1.5 on an Eastern aspect of Seattle Ridge
Weather
Mostly sunny
15F
Calms winds
Snow surface
000' - 8" of new snow
1500' - 8" of new snow with pockets of wind stiffened snow
2000- 2500' - Variable surfaces, Soured ridges, Northern terrain features were more loaded and Southern aspects were generally more scoured, above and at treelike.
Snowpack
2000-2500' elevation zone: Total height of snow varied from a few inches on scoured ridges to 3.5' on loaded leeward terrain features. Dug a hand pit on a North facing terrain feature near several small wind slabs. Found a (1F-4F) slab sitting on a layer of loose faceted snow, and it released upon isolation. In several places dug to the ground and found faceted snow on the ground. Probed near the crown of a wind slab that released yesterday and could feel a sudden density change near the ground, likely faceting. The total height of snow was 110cm (3.5') on this wind loaded feature. The slab thickness varied fro 8" to 17".
1600' - Dug a hand pit near several glide cracks (the three that released over a week ago) and found moist snow on the ground. Total height of snow 15"
Small D1.5 natural avalanche on Seattle Ridge, Eastern aspect.
Two small (D1) avalanches on a north facing aspect with several ski tracks near by. Likely triggered yesterday by skiers.
Variable surface conditions exist in the alpine above treeline. Southern aspects are more scoured and northern aspects more loaded.
Debris in Elevator Shaft, Northern aspect of Sunburst.
Beaded Stream Instrument has bamboo marking to help protect the surrounding snow.