| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: West Face of Sunburst
We broke trail along the normal sunburst skin track heading towards the ridge with the intentions of gauging snowpack stability.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Large, reoccurring whumphing was observed accompanied by shooting cracks above 1500ft on open slopes. Largest whumph sounded like it propagated uphill hundreds of feet.
Weather
20201121 @ 13:30
Sky condition was broken
Winds were light from the NE
No precip during observation
Snow surface
Smooth new snow surface, stellar precipitation particles
Overnight snow accumulation between 20-40cm
Ski/Boot penetration: 26/60 cm
Snowpack
While touring significant whumphing was observed above 1500'. The primary layer of concern was initially thought to be the new/old snow interface but after a series of snow tests the LOC was found to be a layer of facets at ground level. Four out of five lemons were observed in the snowpack test.
Lemons:
- Less that 100cm snowpack
- Weak layer was identified
- Grain size difference >1mm: 4mm facets
- Weak layer < 10cm
Tests:
Elev: 2400ft, Aspect: 300 degrees, Incline: 22 degrees
STM 40cm down at new/old interface
CTV 60cm down at snow/ground interface
ECTP 12 60cm down
LOC facets
W slope Sunburst-21-Nov