Scattered to Few skies throughout the day with Valley Fog over Turnagain Arm approx 2,300-1,800 ft.
Calm to Light E winds with sporadic gusts up to 15mph above 2,000 ft.
No Precip throughout the entire day.
Sunny, Cold with temperatures ranging from -25°C to -5°C.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Tincan
10:00am- My partner and I ascended standard approach track, conducted snow instability tests at the base of Hippy Bowl, and skied a few laps within Hippy Bowl and Common Bowl. Many groups descending all aspects from Proper, Library, Todds’s and Common Bowl observed throughout the day with no observed incidents. Loose-Dry is a concern, along with many obvious wind-loading pillows waiting to new skier-triggered over Common and Hippy Bowl. Sunny, cool day!
Weather
Snow surface
1-2mm surface hoar is now present from 1,000 ft to 3,200 ft on all aspects. (Photo 1)
Surface Hoar feathers are sitting over 19/20JAN Fresh, now decomposing precipitation particles.
Wind-packed snow is felt on ridgelines, but unconsolidated, and isolated to Leeward, Southern aspects.
Snowpack
Snowpack is generally right-side up with the widespread facet layer, generally 50cm below surface the 19/20JAN storm, acting as a cohesive, structured layer in recent pits. (Consistent trend)
We conducted instability tests near the base of Hippy Bowl, near the skin track towards Common Bowl Plateau.
12:15pm, 3,110 ft, W Aspect, 17° Slope, -25°C, SCT, No Precip, Calm Winds
HS 252cm
Test Depth: 96cm
Hardness Profile:
96-(Surface)F, 1-2mm Surface Hoar, (/), Dry
-F (/), Dry
78
-4F Facets (Rounds), Dry
42
-1F-4F Rounds (Facets), Dry
10
, Rounds, Dry
0
Tests:
STM 45cm down on Rounds (Facets)
CT 23 RP 32cm below surface on 1-2mm Facets (Rounds).
ECTX
1mm Surface Hoar, 2,300ft, Widespread
Hardness Profile
Facet Layer, 90 cm below surface
1-2mm Facet Layer or possible Depth Hoar Cups, 2mm Grid