Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Quick afternoon tour up Tincan to check on new snow amounts and how the new snow is bonding with the old surfaces.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Observer Comments

Cracking and small wind slabs on test slopes.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Overcast with gusty winds on the ridgetops. Plumes were seen from the strong East winds. No new snow during the day. Temps 35F at parking lot and mid 20's F on ridge.

Snow surface

3" wet snow below 1,500' with a crust on top.
6" new low density snow above 2,000' - wind affected on the Tincan Ridge.

Snowpack

Only concerns seen in the pack were in the top foot. These are essentially recent wind slabs (from the past two days of East winds). The slabs are 4-12" thick and sitting on a weak old snow surface. The weak layer was a combination of broken precipitation particles and buried surface hoar - these two grains types were intermixed. See photos below.

Bottom line: Wind slabs found today in areas with recent wind deposited snow were showing signs of being 'stubborn'. This means I had to work to get anything to release on test slopes. Yet, I'd be suspect of steep wind loaded terrain with higher consequences if a slab does release.

Photos & Video
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