Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan Alpine and Trees

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Standard route up Tincan to Common bowl. Skied Common and then several runs in the trees. Sorry no Photos – Forgot Phone

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

There was evidence of a sluff or soft slab avalanche off the front of Common that probably went during the storm. We head a whoof in the low angle area before Common ridge. Talke d to the group ahead of us and they heard several. Talked to the group who broke trail and they didn't have any whoofing. Contemplated if it might be the RR doing control but in the end, given the recent snow load, we assumed it was collapsing.

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

Partly cloudy in teh morning turning mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Temps in low teens at the lot and warming with elevation to the 20's.
Winds were light

Snow surface

Hard to tell exactly what was recent snow but it looked like about 18" to 20" at most elevations. Up to 2300 feet the snow was light and unconsolidated. Above 2300' the snow was wind affected and was much denser. Ski penetration was up to 2' and most folks were having trouble getting momentum going down hill on lower angle.

Snowpack

All hand pits broke at the new old interface (new surface faceting?) with the new snow pretty much falling apart. In the alpine where there was wind effect the new snow acted more like a slab but was very soft and would still fall apart.
It was pretty easy to ski penetrate to the onld crust especially at lower elevations where the snow was lighter.