| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Lynx Drainage
Rode into Lynx Creek drainage to look for recent avalanche activity, either naturals from the storm or human triggered since the opening of this zone on Saturday 1/27. Although evidence of widespread naturals from 1′ of new snow on 1/26, there were no human trigger avalanches observed despite lots of folks enjoying the new snow Jan 27 and 28 – several tracks on many slopes.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Spoke with a party that reported a remotely triggered soft slab avalanche on Saturday 1/27; ~100' wide and ran ~300'. This was on the back side of the Lynx drainage into Juneau Ck drainage - not visible from Lynx drainage.
Weather
Valley fog up to 2000' and single digit temps at Johnson Pass trailhead. Noteworthy inversion - temps were approximately in the mid teens above the fog layer. Winds were calm throughout the day.
Snow surface
12" of snow at all elevations from January 26th storm, blown into 2 ft drifts in places.
Snowpack
Hand pits on the ascent were showing good bonding with the 1 foot of 1/26 snow and underlying crust - there was also the absence of a slab (very loose surface snow). Near 2000', the 1/15 crust was roughly 1" thick and degrading (easily breakable under a snowmachine). The snow below the crust was weak and faceted.
Dug a formal pit at 2200' NW aspect. Tests performed in the top meter of the snowpack. ECTN17 & ECTN21 on the January 21 buried surface hoar down 12". No other results.
Pit at 2200' in Lynx Drainage, NW aspect. HS=240cm (likely a wind loaded pocket). ECTN17 & ECTN21 down 12" on the January 21 buried surface hoar.
Widespread natural avalanches from 1' of new snow on 1/26.
Valley fog up to 2000' and a strong inversion noted today.
Many tracks on a variety of slopes without report of human triggered avalanches on Sunday.
General conditions in Lynx Creek drainage.
General conditions in Lynx Creek drainage.
General conditions in Lynx Creek drainage.
General conditions in Lynx Creek drainage.
General conditions in Lynx Creek drainage.