Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Tincan Trees

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Skied up common up-track to treeline, skied two runs on southern and western aspects. Noted poor bonding of new snow to old snow surface but did not see any evidence of wind transport on surface to 2,400 ft and no propagation on ski cuts on west-facing aspects.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger SkierRemote Trigger No
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect South
Elevation 1600ftSlope Angle 35deg
Crown Depth 12inWidth 90ft
Vertical Run 90ft  
Near Miss / Accident Details
Avalanche Details

Skied southern aspect from Tincan common, observed poor bonding of new snow to old snow pits on the way up but did not note any propagation on ski cuts on west-facing aspects. Skied 35 degree + roller on southern aspect towards the end of the line and the new snow in the past 24 hrs failed on the underlying sun crust. Skier was able to ski off the avalanche and was not caught or carried. We made the mistake of attributing ski cuts on west-facing aspects to more southernly aspects that have been more sun affected and had a harder bed surface.

Rescue events

No rescue needed

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

Partly sunny, temperature in the 20s

Snow surface

12 inches of low to medium density snow

Snowpack

Observed slight density change in hand pits ~10-20 cm from surface within the storm slab, did not observe any failure across this density change.

Photos & Video
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