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Observation: Turnagain
Location: Upper Seattle Creek drainage, headwall area
Rode into the upper portions of Seattle Creek drainage to look at the problem weak layer plaguing the region currently.
Observer Comments
Weather
Mostly sunny, temps in the upper 20's F and light easterly winds.
Snow surface
4-8" of low density powder snow.
Small surface hoar growing on top (2-5mm)
Snowpack
We dug several snowpits to see what the MLK BSH layer (Martin Luther King Jr. Buried Surface Hoar) was doing.
Pit #1:
NE, 3,300', 20 degree slope
CT 24, 40cm down on MLK BSH
ECTN 30+, same layer
Pit #2:
N, 3,100', 30 degree slope
ECTX, could not find the MLK BSH
Pit #3:
E, 3,000, 15 degree slope
2x ECTN, 35cm down in the MLK BSH mixed with facets
Pit #4 Repeat Offender slide path:
E 2,500', 15 degree slope
ECTP 19, 40cm down MLK BSH
2x EXTN 30+, same layer
Bottom line: We found the worrisome layer roughly 14-20" down in all pits but one on a N aspect. Only one pit (2,500' Repeat Offender slide path) showed propagation potential. Although these stability tests are showing a strengthening snowpack, these tests cannot be trusted unfortunately. As seen in the events on Eddies ridge from yesterday (Feb, 6).
Pit on the upper portion of the Repeat Offender slide path
Wider angle view of the same pit on Repeat Offender
One of the slopes that have not avalanched and look great to ski/ride yet are suspect for avalanching, tricky situation
Just one of the many pits that were dug!!