Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Went up standard Tincan uptrack to the top of Tincan Common (~3200′)

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

A few SS D1's on convex rollovers in the Tincan trees. No other signs of instability

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

Rain/snow line around 700-800', snowing S1 around noon with big wet heavy flakes. Snow ended an hour or so later. Flat light most of the day but did catch an hour long sucker hole which provided good visibility and allowed travel above treeline. Low clouds rolled in later in the afternoon and we were back to skiing by braille.

Snow surface

Classic Chugach Chunder up to treeline then become increasingly less 'chundery' above. Skiing off of Tincan common was actually pretty nice. Snow below treeline become even more wet later in the afternoon as low clouds rolled in and deposited some light drizzle on the surface.

Snowpack

Dug a pit off the uptrack near treeline (NW slope, ~2300'). HS = 280 cm with 60 cm new snow sitting on top of small near surface facets. New snow from the weekend had an upside down density change about half way down. Performed 2 ECTs:
1st: ECTN 15 failing in the new snow density change. ECTN 25 at new/old snow interface
2nd: ECTN 15 at density change, ECTP 26 at new old/snow interface

Looks like new snow is beginning to bond to old snow surface but still shows propagation potential

Photos & Video
Please upload photos below. Maximum of 5 megabytes per image. Click here for help on resizing images. If you are having trouble uploading please email images separately to staff.