Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Tincan to 2800′; down in the trees

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)?Yes
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Signs of avalanches triggered yesterday were still present; didn't see anything from overnight or today. Several collapses when leaving the skin track at various elevations on the route, but far fewer than yesterday. The first group up common said they experienced no collapsing on the final route up.

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

Overcast turning to broken skies, occasional light N winds above treeline. Temps in the 20s, and periods of very light snow.

Snow surface

One inch of new snow overnight, with the top ~8" of the snowpack transitioning from moist to dry overnight at lower elevations.

Snowpack

Dug twice to compare today's results to yesterday's observation:

Pit #1 - right before the standard uptrack turns left up to the top of common.
2800', NW aspect, 20 degree slope. Height of Snow = 200cm
CT 19, 21 SC down 65cm on the surface hoar layer buried 12/24/2016
CT 17, 22 SC down 80cm on surface hoar buried 12/15/2016
ECTP 22, 23 down 65cm
PST 22/100 END down 65 cm

Pit #2 - several hundred feet below treeline on a rollover.
NW aspect, 25 degree slope, 2000', HS=160cm
Pit was dug on a similar aspect and ~200 yards from the D1.5 skier triggered avalanche reported yesterday
CT 17 SC down 62cm on the 12/24 buried surface hoar
CT 22 SC down 80cm on the 12/14 buried surface hoar
ECTX x 2
PST 26/100 END on the 12/24 buried surface hoar