Small skier triggered cornice fall
Fanning roller balls on S-SE slopes, a sign that the sun is affecting the snow and warm air temps
Small pockets of wind slab
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Seattle Ridge
Seattle Ridge up-track to 3000′, rode in Main Bowl (1st Bowl) and traveled towards Little Sweden. Had a good look around the Seattle Creek terrain.
Observer Comments
Weather
Partly cloudy progressing to mostly clear and sunny
Light NE winds
Temps in the mid-20s to 30s, there was a temperature spike @ Seattle Ridge wx station up to 32 @ 4 pm
Snow surface
1000'-1500' rain crust with 1-6" of settled snow
1500'-3000' 6"-3' of settled storm snow, wind drifted on the ridge. Snow changed in the afternoon with the rising temperature and the sun.
Snowpack
Observed a lot of slope testing today with all signs pointing to a mostly stable snowpack with the exceptions of cornice hazard, glides and the transition to sun affecting the snow.
Generally good surface conditions moving into the new storm cycle. It is time to start paying attention to the sun (when we actually see it) and when and where sun crusts start to form.
***We received a report from observers in the Skookum area about natural (sun/temp) wet loose avalanches and soft slabs (D2s).
Cornice and glide cracks in Mama's Bowl (Zero Bowl)
Glide cracks across Seattle Creek near Big Chief
Sun starting to affect surface snow on Repeat Offender
Seattle Ridge sunshine
Glide cracks and high marks in Main Bowl ( 1st Bowl)
Looking down into Warm-up Bowl (-1 Bowl) where the cornice fell
Skier triggered cornice fall into Warm-up Bowl (-1 Bowl)
Looking down towards Seattle Creek