Observation: Turnagain

Location: Magnum Ridge

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Toured up to Magnum Ridge via PMS bowl. Traveled to 3500′ to check out surface conditions prior to the storm and the cornice triggered avalanche in Superbowl.

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

Broken skies with increasing clouds in the afternoon
Temps in the single digits in the valley to mid teens at ridge top
Light E-NE winds

Snow surface

10-15mm surface hoar to 3500' @ ridge top this has been wind effected. In some locations knocked over and/or rimed or completely blown away.

Snowpack

Dug @ 2400'. S aspect, 25 degree slope, HS=135cm, at this elevation the Thanksgiving Rain Crust was 90 cm below the surface and 15 cm thick. There was 5 cm of buried NSF above the crust. No results in any stability tests.

We were primarily looking at surface conditions today. At this elevation there was 15-20 cm of F hard decomposing precip particles (.5mm) that have been faceting during this cold spell under the surface hoar. (Geek note: you can see almost complete stellars that are faceting with a loupe.)

Photos & Video
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