No obvious signs of instability, except fairly recent glide releases seen from the road.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Tincan South Approach/Magnum/Cornbiscuit
Alaska Avalanche Schol Level 1 students made observations of the “boring” & moist snowpack on several locations at the pass. Two groups traveled to 1600′ elevation, but one group gained 1900′ to find dry snow. Traveling 11:30am to 3:45pm.
Observer Comments
Weather
Precipitation: Light snow with clearing early afternoon. So stoked not to have a single drop of rain!
Wind: Calm to light depending on locations.
Temperature: Hovering around freezing.
Snow surface
New storm snow accumulation 10-15cm. Quite moist & cohesive storm layer, simple snowball toss tests developed some rollerballs, but no wet slab or wet loose activity observed.
Boot penetration was ~70cm due to the wet surface snow.
Two groups found melt freeze crust in lower elevations.
Snowpack
Snowpack was "boring" in the top 100cm. Generally right side up, moist and isothermal.
Snow stability tests below treeline had no significant results (several CTN & ECTX on SE & W aspects).
HS:285cm
The top 100 cm of snowpack at 1600' on Tincan South approach. Right side up & moist.
We were treated with period of broken skies and nice light while descending. No recent avalanches observed by our groups.
One group performed percolation test with Koolaid. Nice visual for seeing how easily water travels down in moist snowpack, just barely held in place with minor crusts found in the pack.