None observed on 2.24.19
Added two photos from 2.25.19.: Small fanning point release on slope above FS in Girdwood and recent wet loose activity on Goat Mtn. Temperatures were above freezing in the Alpine on 2.25.19
Observation: Girdwood
Location: Max's Mountain
Max’s standard woodsy wander and west ridge uptrack.
Checking out wind effect, solar effect and the Valentine’s facet layer reactivity.
Observer Comments
Weather
Mostly clear and sunny with some high cloud haze
Temperatures in the 20Fs
Calm
Snow surface
In the woods: a few inches of faceted snow on melt freeze crust.
In meadow opening at 650': around a foot of soft faceted snow on a melt freeze crust
Once out of the trees: soft faceting snow, becoming moist on southerly slopes, slight mf crust on ski down,
Variable wind effect in exposed terrain.
Snowpack
Pit # 1 at 2000'. See photo. Valentine's near surface facets and decomposing precip particles 25 cm down. 1 ft to pencil hard snow below all the way down to MLK buried surface hoar 110 cm below the surface.
The surface hoar was still very easy identify sandwiched between thin melt-freeze crusts.
Pit # 2 at 2500'. See photo. Valentine's near surface facets below rime crust attached to 20 cm slab. CT 12 SC, ECTP 13
Pit # 1 @ 2000'
Pit # 2 @ 2500'
Surface conditions 1750'
Glide crack off of Penguin Ridge above Girdwood
2.25.19 small surface wet loose above FS building
2.25.19 wet loose avalanches Goat Mountain