Recent? glide avalanche on Pyramid seen from gas station, midslope on NNW aspect. Photo below.
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Sunburst
Standard route up west face, to 3400′ and second lap to 3100′. Skied W/SW face among old tracks.
Observer Comments
Weather
Scattered to Overcast sky, light snow by the end of the afternoon.
Wind light gusting moderate, shifting throughout the day including N, NE, SE; occasional light snow transport at ridge line.
Snow surface
Soft snow with surface hoar along entire route; ski penetration 4-8" in wind sheltered areas, lessening to 1-4" along ridge
Snowpack
Buried surface hoar present 8-12" deep along route. Hand pits showed varied reactivity in this layer, mainly moderate to no fracture, except one easy failure near 2000'.
See full profile below from 3400', SW aspect, 25 degree slope, HS=44"
CT11 (RP) down 11" in 5mm surface hoar, buried 11-17-2016
CT12 (RP) in buried surface hoar layer
ECTN 21 in buried surface hoar layer
Shovel Tilt Test failed with moderate force, slightly more than Shovel Tilt on Tincan yesterday.
pit profile
Recent? glide avalanche seen from Girdwood gas station
Weather was happening in the late afternoon... light snow began as the sun went down!