Observation: Turnagain

Location: Tincan and Road Obs

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Tour up to Tincan Ridge to check how much new snow has fallen and how it is bonding with the old snow surface.

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)?Yes
Observer Comments

One very recent avalanche noted on the steep rollovers below Hippie Bowl, Southerly aspect 2,500'. Only the track and debris were discernible with the limited visibility so we could not tell if this was a slab or a point release. Avalanche ran ~300 vertical feet and was around 75' wide.

Portage Valley had some storm slab avalanches - see photo.

Small shooting cracks in the new storm snow.

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

Obscured skies with some breaking clouds at times. Very warm temperatures - felt around 30F at all elevations. Greenhousing in the afternoon. Winds were light from the NE. Light snowfall until noon then no precipitation after that.

Snow surface

12-14" of medium density new snow - somewhat upside down.

Snowpack

New snow was warm and sticking to old snow surface fairly well. Weakest point was just above the new/old interface within the storm snow. No propagation was seen in stability tests - new snow was not acting like a slab in this area.

Pit 1: 3,200' North aspect 25 degrees.
ECTN 4 down 25cm progressive compression in storm snow. ECTN 15 down 40cm, in facets below a thin wind crust

Pit 2: 3,000' Southwest aspect, 20 degrees
ECTN 2 down 25 cm progressive compression in storm snow. ECTN 20 down 35cm, in facets below sun crust

Essentially, there was just enough new snow to create large sluffs in very steep terrain but not quite enough for slab avalanches in Tincan Common - very limited visibility and things could be different just on the other side of the ridge or higher in elevation.

Portage Valley - Storm slabs were present but again limited visibility kept much unseen.

Photos & Video
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