Observation: Turnagain

Location: Seattle Ridge

Date:

November 24, 2017 3:00pm

Observer:

H. Thamm/ J-Bloom Professional

Route & General Observations

Standard uptrack on Seattle Ridge to 2800′

Red Flags

Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.

Observer Comments

None observed

Weather & Snow Characteristics

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

Weather

Clear skies
light NW winds with a few gusts in teens along ridge
Cold! 10F
No precip

Snow surface

1000' - 1500'- 7" settled low density faceting snow with tiny (~3mm) surface hoar on top
1500' -2300' - 4-8" of low density faceting snow
Above 2300' - Variable surfaces: Sastrugi, firm wind drifted snow, and exposed melt/freeze crust

Snowpack

Very thin!

Below 1700' - 7" of Fist hard faceting snow; chained 2-3mm facets on the ground and near surface facets on the top.

1700'- 2300' a thin and intermittent melt/freeze crust well bonded to the ground gradually gets more consistent and thicker (~2") with elevation. 4-6" of Fist hard facets was sitting on the melt freeze crust. This was on the the SE side of Repeat Offender which is protected from recent NW winds. *We hiked down from this elevation due early season conditions and exposed rocks.

2300' - Variable, thin, and wind affected! Along the upper ridge there is a stout melt freeze crust mixed with sastrugi and some isolated firm wind slabs (2-4".) In protected places 4-6" of low density facets on the crust were found.

Photos & Video

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