Active wind loading
Avalanche activity between Pyramid and Alpenglow seen from the Seward Hwy
Observation: Turnagain
Location: Tincan
Toured up standard route to 2200′. The plan was to do some rescue practice and get a look around at surface conditions. Could see flagging along ridge tops due to strong winds transporting snow into space and loading leeward aspects. Lenticular clouds were seen all day, evidence of high winds aloft.
Observer Comments
Weather
Strong Easterly winds (30's w/ gust in 60s)
Partly cloudy (lenticulars above many mountains) w/ sun most of the day
Temps were in low 30's F at 11am and cooled into 20's by 3pm
No new precip
Snow surface
1000-2000' : 5mm of surface hoar sitting on 10" of lose faceting snow in trees
Above 2000': Variable surfaces including sastrugi, wind boards, exposed crust, pockets of wind slabs and pockets of powder
Snowpack
Dug a quick pit at 2200', WSW aspect, HS:95cm. Moist melt/freeze gains found in bottom 45cm of snowpack and moist 2mm facets on ground. Stout crust 25cm Pencil hard crust in middle of pack with 30cm of wind affected 1F to 4F snow on surface. CTX, CT29 failed on moist facets on the ground.
Strong winds blowing snow on Big Chief, Seattle Ridge Headwall zone
Strong winds in Twentymile blowing snow along ridge tops
Impressive Lenticular over Peterson Headwall/Blueberry
Lenticular in the valley behind Center Ridge. A good example of terrain that hasn't seen obvious signs of avalanching from the Dec. storm cycle and could have dangerous deep slab potential
Variable surfaces and anti tracks on Common Bowl
Near surface facets and Surface Hoar both found in 10" of loose snow sitting on stout m/f crust below 2000'
5mm surface
Could see some old tracks on SE face of Seattle Ridge were getting blown and cross loading gullies.
Beautiful Solstice sunset and a good day to practice rescue skills!
Pit at 2200'