Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Tincan trees, and one lap up to common.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?No
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

In a clearing at the bottom of the trees (~1500') one shooting crack was observed, extending 15-20' across a steep rollover. An adjacent hand pit failed on the third wrist tap, down 10" in the 1cm surface hoar that was buried on 11/17.

Glide cracks formed recently on the face of Tincan Common; see photo below.

No whumphing or new human triggered slides observed today

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

Overcast and very light snow in the AM, with skies clearing midday... no more than one inch of new snow at higher elevations. Light winds from the North in the morning, shifting to south in the afternoon.

Snow surface

Soft snow along the entire route... even down to the parking lot!

Snowpack

Hand pits throughout the day and route had varied results, failing under easy taps just once near the cracking mentioned above. Otherwise, moderate to no results within the 11/17 buried surface hoar layer.

Snow Pit: 2700', NW, 20 degree slope, with the height of snow = 40"
From top down:
12" Fist -> 4f snow
1cm buried surface hoar
10" 4f ->1f hard rounds
18" of pencil melt freeze crusts/grains, moist at the ground
Test Results:
ECTN 11, 12" down on the 1cm surface hoar buried 11/17.
CT11 RPx2, 12" down on the 1cm surface hoar.
CT27 RP, 22" down on top of a melt freeze crust.
Shovel tilt test of buried surface hoar failed easily, with just three light taps.

Photos & Video
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