Observation: Turnagain

Route: Traveled from 1000ft-3200ft on Tincan

Weather:
Day began cloudy and snowing lightly, then clear and sunny after 2pm
Cold temps in the single digits F
Moderate winds from the East with strong gusts at ridge tops, blowing snow observed above 2200ft at
ridges. (see photos)

Signs of Instability:
Recent Avalanches: One very small natural wind slab observed in Hippy Bowl, SW aspect, 3100ft (see
photo)
Cracking: localized cracking 2-10” around skis, observed in areas with wind loading from today.
Collapsing: None Observed

Surface Observations:
1000ft-2500ft: 2-3” of new snow (2/12) over low density storm snow from 2/7 and 2/10
2500ft-3200ft: 2-3” of new snow with wind affected surfaces. Winds picked up in the afternoon and
rapid wind loading was observed on West and South slopes.

Snowpack Observations:
Snowpack still consists of 16-18” low density, unconsolidated snow (2/7, 2/10, and 2/12) on top of a
stout crust. In many locations, there are very weak facets between the storm snow and the crust, but
the storm snow is still lacking slab properties (in areas without wind loading). There is a lot of spatial
variability in the locations where the facets are found, and how well the storm snow is bonding to the
crust. In areas we visited today, where the facets are absent, the storm snow is showing signs of
bonding with the crust.

We dug down to the crust on a SW aspect, near an old slab avalanche (2/8) on CFR ridge at 2900ft. This
area was previously wind loaded, with some additional loading from today. The storm snow was around
50cm in depth, and is sitting on an 8-10cm layer of stronger P hard snow with weak F hard facets
beneath it. (In this location, the storm snow had formed a slab.) This is all sitting on top of the crust,
from warm January temperatures.

Skiing/riding Conditions:
Skiing conditions were good in most places. However, sometimes you can still hit the crust below the
storm snow. Lower elevations still have low cover but soft surface conditions are keeping it okay skiing
for the most part.