Observations
Oct Nov Dec Entire Year
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 3 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, KeelerDate: Dec 2nd, 2013 Location: Sunburst (with map) Observation: Toured up to Sunburst to take a look at the extent of the 'facet farming' occurring in the mountains. Weather: WARM above treeline - mid 30'sF at 3,500'! The parking lot (1,000') was 5F. Skies were mostly clear, high clouds streaming in from the north. Wind was light from the west. Recent avalanches and signs of instability: None. Primary concern: Hitting rocks. Snowpack: Tot >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Alex McLainDate: Nov 29th, 2013 Location: Fresno Ridge/Colorado Peak (with map) Observation: Today I went up Fresno Ridge and found shallow snow and cold temperatures that dipped down to -2F. Winds were NW, 10mph gust 20-30 mph. Recent avalanche activity in upper loading zones of Colorado Peak on east Aspect. The snow pack is very shallow with 16-24" of snow at mid elevations with some wind effect. The snow structure was light snow on top of a slab that was about 6-8" thic >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 4 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, Johnston-BloomDate: Nov 28th, 2013 Location: Seattle Ridge (with map) Observation: A look at the Seattle Ridge side of Turnagain Pass. Weather: Clear and windy with a few clouds. Wind gusting moderate to strong from the West on peaks and ridges. Many plumes and snow devils. Signs of instability: -Cracking in recent wind deposited snow. -One collapse felt where pit was dug (2700ft NE, see picture below). We had a hard time determining where this collapse took place. >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 1 image | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Kevin WrightSunburst snowpit profile Date: Nov 27th, 2013 Location: Sunburst (with map) Observation: Sky conditions - nearly solid cloud layer at 3000-3500 feet. Intermittent fog. Temperatures in the high 20s. Very light wind. Snowpack - We did not encounter any obvious red flags. Skinning up the standard track, we dug a few hand pits, roughly 30-40cm deep near treeline. Main test pit was at 2800 feet with a total depth of 65cm. We skied the slope with no problems, except occasiona >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 24th, 2013 Location: Summit Pass (with map) Observation: Skier triggered avalanche on West facing aspect of sugar ridge at 3000'. Let loose while traversing above windloaded rollover, broke 8"-14" down on top of 4" of faceted snow above the ground then stepped down to bare ground. 20-30 yards wide, ran 300 yards. Pit showed very sensitive layer failing on first tap. View Complete |
 1 image | REGION: TurnagainObserver:Date: Nov 23rd, 2013 Location: Sunburst Observation: This photo was sent in to the Avalanche Center Saturday evening. Avalanche was skier triggered by a ski cut. Type: Wind Slab SSW facing, ~3500-3800ft elevaiton Crown face: 16-18" Ran to valley floor (~1000ft) width unknown Weak Layer: Facets Reported to be a wind slab over faceted snow. This is consistent with our current snowpack set up: 12" of new snow from Nov 21/22 overlying 1 >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 5 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, ModerowDate: Nov 23rd, 2013 Location: Tincan and Turnagain Pass in general (with map) Observation: A drive along Turnagain Pass and a hike up to the skier triggered slide on Tincan revealed the following: Weather: Skies were party cloudy and temperatures cool - in the teens. Wind was light from the south. Surface conditions: Recent storm snow from Nov 21/22 was 12" dense power above 2,500'. Variable wind effect above treeline. Below 2,500 there is a crust capping the new snow that gets >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
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| REGION: TurnagainObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 22nd, 2013 Location: Tin can "common" (with map) Observation: Skier Triggered avalanche on tin can common bowl. Triggered by the fourth skier entering the run on more or less the same tracks . Initial fracture propagated 30-50 yards. Did not initially display much energy, however initiated a few sympathetic slides in the near vicinity. Slide ran ~150'- 200' at its greatest. Crown anywhere from 6"-2';Nov 21-22 Storm snow. Bed surface; Nov 10th old fac >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
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| REGION: SummitObserver: Alex McLainDate: Nov 21st, 2013 Location: Summit Lake/Carter Lake Area (with map) Observation: Snow is dry and winds have picked up blowing snow at upper elevations. This new snow is not bonding well with the base. In steep terrain such as LV Ray very small powder avalanches were seen running down the gullies and creating an almost continuous water fall of snow over cliff bands that lasted 5 min. The snow started here 1130 with winds at Fresno Weather station 20mph gust to 42 m >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, WrightDate: Nov 20th, 2013 Location: Tincan (with map) Observation: A quick trip up to the Tincan Common Bowl area on Wednesday afternoon to asses the snowpack before Friday's snow/rain event. Weather: Cold and clear. Single digits with a just a few clouds moving in at ridgetop level from the SE. Wind was light from the SE. Snowpack: See VIDEO below as well as photos. Above treeline - Snowpack ~16-24" deep. Top 10+ inches very loose and faceted. Bo >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 5 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 17th, 2013 Location: Summit Lake Area, Tenderfooot Ridge United States (with map) Observation: Very Light snow from the Nov. 10th storm, looks as though its been through some warm cold cycles. There are definite signs of point releases mostly on North facing slopes but also on West and south facing slopes. Probably from warm weather causing the storm snow with no base to slide on ground surface. The surface snow shows signs of melting and refreezing and then forming surface hoar th >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
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| REGION: TurnagainObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 17th, 2013 Location: Eddies (with map) Observation: Route: Eddies, starting on the Iditarod Historic Trail and reaching ~2800’ on a NW aspect. Time: 11:15 AM – 4:15 PM Weather: Low teens throughout the day, with just a few clouds. Calm at the parking lot, with light SW winds gusting to 10-15 mph in unprotected areas. No snow transport was occurring today along our route. At ~2800’ winds were generally from the SW, with an occ >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 1 image | REGION: Hatcher Pass - Outside Advisory AreaObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 17th, 2013 Location: Hatcher Pass (with map) Observation: Experienced breakable melt freeze crust on South face of line up to 5,000 ft. Appx. 1.5 ft of unconsolidated soft snow beneath crust. This made for challenging riding conditions. Ascent via NE facing Lost Couloir, moderate wind loading creating a hard slab up to 10 inches thick in places, non reactive to compression tests. View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 16th, 2013 Location: Tincan (with map) Observation: Route: Up to Tincan common from the Tincan Lot via the standard, west facing uptrack. Down to the skiers right of the uptrack, on a northwest aspect. Time: 1030 AM to 430 PM Weather: Temperature was 18f at the parking lot when leaving and returning, cooling to 11f above treeline. Mostly sunny all day. Winds were generally from the southwest - light until above treeline, then jus >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 4 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Public ObserverDate: Nov 16th, 2013 Location: Iditarod trail, bathrooms to Ingram Creek (with map) Observation: Skied Iditarod Trail from bathrooms mile 69 to Ingram Creek overlook. 6 inches of snow at the bathrooms to 12 inches of snow at the overlook. Unconsolidated snow throughout the ski. Flowing water starting to freeze but not completely covered so some negotiating required to cross of some of the crossings. Temps in the 20s, brisk wind in the morning which died down as the day progressed. >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 5 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wendy WagnerDate: Nov 15th, 2013 Location: Tincan (with map) Observation: No one out recreating in the Turnagain Pass area today. Which is not surprising with the little snow cover. Travel was up to 3,500' Weather: Mild, in the upper 20's, and partly cloudy. A moderate southwesterly wind persisted on the Tincan ridge but seemed confined to between 3,000 and 3,400'. No plumes seen. Snowpack: In general, the snow from the Nov 10 storm is very loose, unsuppor >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 3 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Alex McLainDate: Nov 14th, 2013 Location: Summit Lake Area (with map) Observation: Today warm temperatures were starting to melt the surface snow but the underlying snow remained low density facets. Some new Surface Hoar Frost was present in the valley (2mm in size) but was being melted by sun/warm temperatures. 30 cm of snow at Fresno N (MP 50 of Seward Highway. Most avalanches were small and confined to drainages but pictures show the larger slides in the area mostly >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 3 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wendy WagnerDate: Nov 12th, 2013 Location: Tincan and Turnagain Pass in general (with map) Observation: Observations from the first clear day after the Nov. 10 storm that put down a foot of new snow at Turnagain Pass. Several folks getting out on Tincan the last couple days, though the coverage is still very minimal. Avalanche activity: -Human triggered pocket on Tincan's Common Bowl - in the usual place where the rollover steepens - believed to be from Monday Nov. 11th. Estimated at >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Kevin WrightMaynard mountain wind slabs Date: Nov 8th, 2013 Location: Maynard mountain, Turnagain Pass (with map) Observation: I had an opportunity to fly around our region on Friday, November 8th. Avalanche activity was not common in the dusting of snow on peaks above 2500 feet. The one exception was on Maynard mountain, which is the mountain that the Whittier tunnel travels through. Whittier had forecasted wind to 45mph. Low volume wind slabs were spontaneously releasing on the Whittier side of the upper mou >>>> see observation for complete description View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, LatosuoDate: Nov 8th, 2013 Location: Seattle Ridge (with map) Observation: A hiking mission up to the Seattle Ridge weather station to replace the wind sensor gave us a hint of what the snow cover looks like at the mid elevations. As you might expect, the snow is completely faceted and very loose. You would not be able to make a snowball out of this stuff. Depths range from a couple inches to a foot deep. View Complete |
 3 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Alex McLainDate: Nov 7th, 2013 Location: Summit Lake Area (Tenderfoot) (with map) Observation: Snow starts at around 2500ft give or take. Dusting to 5cm (2 inches) with very isolated pockets of up to 6 inches of snow in wind loaded areas. These isolated windloaded areas have 2” thin slab on top. The ground was frozen in the areas I checked including West, South, and North Aspects up to 3500'. View Complete |
 2 images | REGION: SummitObserver: Alex McLainDate: Nov 7th, 2013 Location: Summit Lake Area (with map) Observation: View from Tenderfoot Ridge both north and south. View Complete |
 3 images | REGION: TurnagainObserver: Wagner, Predeger, WrightDate: Nov 6th, 2013 Location: Turnagain Pass (with map) Observation: A few photos from a recon trip and various Forest Service duties at Turnagain Pass. Snowline is around 2200ft and it looks farily white above 3000ft. We hope to get into the snow on Friday for a first hand look before a possible storm on Sun/Mon. View Complete |
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