Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Turnagain Pass, AGC Rec Level 1 avalanche course weekend summary

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Tincan, Sunburst, Taylor Pass, Magnum
Summary of observations from Saturday and Sunday during the Alaska Guide Collective Rec Level 1 avalanche course.

Avalanche Details
If this is an avalanche observation, click yes below and fill in the form as best as you can. If people were involved, please provide details.
Trigger UnknownRemote Trigger Unknown
Avalanche Type Soft SlabAspect West
Elevation 3000ftSlope Angleunknown
Crown Depth 24inWidth 200ft
Vertical Run 200ft  
Avalanche Details

Observed an avalanche that happened Sunday mid-day to early afternoon on Magnum's west aspect at about 3,000 feet elevation. Unknown trigger and weak layer but likely was a skier trigger on the Solstice surface hoar/ near surface facets. Large enough to bury a person. Instructor did a beacon search of the debris with no signal or clues found.

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)?No
Observer Comments

Avalanche on Magnum's west upper face.
No Whumpfing or Shooting cracks observed.

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

Cold temperatures, near zero degrees, slight inversion. Calm wind.

Snow surface

Ski pen of 20+ cm.
Small 2-3mm surface hoar forming, mainly at road to treeline elevation.
Wind effected snow surface at Taylor Pass, 5-10cm wind crust.

Snowpack

Several snowpits dug throughout the weekend near treeline elevation.
About half of the results were ECTN or ECTX and half were ECTP25 down 50-65cm on Solstice surface hoar.