Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Standard uptrack to 2700′

Wind scouring and loading was evident throughout the Alpine terrain. Old tracks were completely covered in places and very visible in others.

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

Minor cracking on steep wind affected features
Small piles of recent avalanche debris observed in a handful of avalanche paths along the Seward highway between Girdwood and the Portage turn off.
New debris in the Elevator Shaft off of Sunburst.
Two D2 avalanches spotted in Petersen Creek from the highway.
Avalanche on the south side of Raggedtop in Girdwood.

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

Partly cloudy
Easterly winds 5-15 with gusts into the 30s
40F at sea level, 32F at parking lot, 20Fs at upper elevations

Snow surface

1000' -1600' thin ice crust (rain on snow freezing) not ideal travel conditions...
1600'-1800' thin melt-freeze crust (wet snow freezing)
1800'-2100' soft snow 4-6"
2100'-2700' variable wind effect

Snowpack

4-6" over the buried surface hoar/near surface facets (1.11.18), deeper in wind loaded spots.
Hand pit at 1100' had the ice crust over the near surface facets above the old melt-freeze crust.
Put shovel in at 4 locations: 1500', 1900', 2200', 2700', 1.11 bsh found in all except at 2700'. near surface facets were in all locations.
Pit at 2700' had the 12.25 and 12.28 bsh as well. ECTX. See photo for structure.

Photos & Video
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