| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Tincan and Road Obs
Tour up to Tincan Ridge to check how much new snow has fallen and how it is bonding with the old snow surface.
Obvious signs of instability
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
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.
Sunburst in the clouds
Pit 1 on North aspect - 14" new snow
Pit 2 on South aspect - 13" new snow - getting very moist
Repeat Offender and the Up-track on Seattle ridge - no signs of natural avalanches
Skookum Valley - A fresh 2' of snow - this area closes to motorized use on April 1, this Saturday
Five sisters slide path in the Portage Valley - recent small pockets of storm slab avalanches - hard to see in photo.