Observation: Turnagain

Location: Corn Biscuit

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Ascended West face of Corn Biscuit and descended SW shoulder. A much thinner snowpack exists on the South end of Turnagain Pass compared to North end, and is especially noticeable in the mid elevation band where hitting rocks was unavoidable. Below 2500′ the snowpack is very loose and unconsolidated with no base. A thin crust can be found above the ground in some places, and in others place this crust is deteriorating/faceting out. On SW aspects above 3000′ the snowpack ranged from 70cm-120cm (2-3.5′). The buried surface hoar layer was found in a pit at 3200′ on a SW aspect, and test results did not show much propagation potential.

Red Flags
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Observer Comments

Nothing observed, except minor sluff.

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

Clear skies and valley fog in the late afternoon
Temps: 1000'(1-4F), 3200'(17F)
Winds were calm
No new precip

Snow surface

1000': ~3" - loose faceting snow
2000': 6-12" variable depending on windward/leeward aspects - mostly loose unconsolidated faceting snow
2500': Variable snow surfaces and depths, wind hardened snow transitioning to unconsolidated faceting snow
3000'-3200': 2-3.5', but mostly probed on SW aspects below ridge

Snowpack

Mid elevations 2000'-3000' on the West face of Corn Biscuit, snow depths were variable due to wind drifted snow. Depths varied from 8" - 20" in drifted areas. In shallow areas the snow was rotten and faceted out. A crust could still be found in most places on the ground, but was deteriorating in thinner areas.

In a snow pit at 3200' the height of snow was 110cm (~3.5'.) 28degree slope. There were several stout Pencil hard crusts within the first 10" sitting on the ground. The snowpack was mostly right side up with the exception of a variable layer of weak snow found with the crust layers, but did not fail in any test and broke unevenly with significant force in shovel sheer. A possible layer to track in the future. The buried surface hoar was the only layer of concern about 40cm (15") below the surface, but also didn't produce any noteworthy results. ECTN15, ECTN14, PST68/100 End. The slab was pretty soft, mostly 4F.

Photos & Video
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