| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Sunburst
I toured with a group of four other aspirant Av Pro 2 students and Big Don Sharaf (the man) from the Taylor Creek Parking Lot (Sunburst) to 3175′ on the NW Ridge of Sunburst (Peak 3812); we enjoyed favorable travel conditions and excellent skiing.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
While gaining the NW Ridge we initiated a collapse at 2400' on a pillow wind feature of apx. 18 deg. slope angle.
Weather
We travelled under overcast and broken skies that precipitated light snowfall (S-1 to S1) transported by light gusting to moderate southwesterly winds, with temperatures ranging from 1C in the parking lot (1000') to -1.6C at our high point and pit site.
Snow surface
Our tour began on wet snow with no ice crust remnants, transitioned to moist snow on a MFcr 10-15cm down at 1200 feet, then moved to 5-15cm of variable height new snow on MFcr at 1600 feet and above; we observed decomposing PP and variable wind deposition on lee side features with wind feature height varying in size from 5-40 cms.
Snowpack
Hand shears, test slopes, and stability tests indicated moderate snowpack structure, high friction at PWLs, and low propagation potential, inferred from test results (ECTN8 on BSH 15cm from SS and ECTN25 on MFcr 65 cm from SS).
Daniel Starr observing Pro 2 aspirants ascending Sunburst standard, photo courtesy of Trip Kinney.
Forest putting in a skin track, photo courtesy of Trip Kinney.