| Recent Avalanches? | No |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | Yes |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | Yes |
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Sunburst uptrack
Alaska Pacific University Snow Science field day touring up on Sunburst uptrack up to 2200′ with a quick poke into lower Magnum uptrack across Taylor Creek.
Obvious signs of instability
Observer Comments
Observed whumphing on several locations.
Weather
10 AM: temps just below freezing, light wind from N, no precip, sky broken.
3 PM: temps below freezing, calm, snowing 1cm/hour, sky obscured.
Snow surface
~5-10 cm of new snow.
No wind impact on surface, except thin wind crust starting ~2000'.
Snowpack
HS 130 - 200cm.
Valentine's Day storm cycle had few distinct layers (colder - warmer - colder) within it.
Layer of concern: buried surface hoar @ 45-60cm down from top of snowpack. This persistent weak layer was reactive in 90% of our travel test & formal tests in varied locations - N, S, SW & W aspects in 1400 to 2200'. Test results included PST 35/100; ECTP11-14SCx8; CT8-14SCx8;
Secondary layer of concern: basal facets @ ground, found on Magnum uptrack at 2200'. These moist facets seemed to be rounding.
Ski quality was good.
Buried surface hoar was easily identifiable in most of the pits as a thin grey line 45-60 cm down from top of snowpack. Test results showed very consistent propagation propensity of this persistent weak layer.
Buried surface hoar was up to 26mm in lower elevations, but seemed to be smaller sized at/above treeline.
In the afternoon, visibility was reduced, another good reason to stay below treeline today. Not many folks out at Sunburst, only us and one other party.