| Trigger | Natural | Remote Trigger | 0 |
| Avalanche Type | Soft Slab | Aspect | West |
| Elevation | 1400ft | Slope Angle | 38deg |
| Crown Depth | 12in | Width | 20ft |
| Vertical Run | 20ft |
Avalanche: Turnagain
Location: Tincan Trees
Snowpack observations day with the Alaska Avalanche School, we had snowshoers so did a nice tour down low heading North at the base of Tin Can Trees. Saw two small D1 storm slab avalanches failing on the most recent buried surface hoar 30 cms down next to ski tracks; so either naturals during the storm cycle or remote triggered by skiers on a 38 degree last pitch coming out of Tincan Trees at 1400 ft on a West aspect.
Avalanche Details
No tracks lead into these small D1 avalanches, but there were ski tracks right next to them: so either remote or natural. One was 15 ft wide crown that ran 20 ft, the other was 25 ft wide crown that ran about 25 ft. It was storm snow soft slab on a very pronounced and intact buried surface hoar (see photos from the pit)
Obvious signs of instability
| Recent Avalanches? | Yes |
| Collapsing (Whumphing)? | No |
| Cracking (Shooting cracks)? | No |
Observer Comments
Tromped around meadow looking for whoomphing and could get none. None of the AAS three groups had any other obvious signs of instability besides these 2 small avalanches in my group.
Weather
Lightly snowing all day long, winds were calm at lower elevation. Visibility was not possible to the upper elevations. Temps were high teens to low 20s.
Snow surface
POWDER! Fresh snow! Little stellar dendrites happy pow.
Snowpack
Performed four ECTS at the same elevation and aspect as the two avalanches. ECTX (2), ECTN27down30 on BSH, ECTP13 down 30 on BSH. CT12 simultaneous down 30 on BSH,down 125 on basal facets.
I'm a very excited avalanche hunter! I FOUND some!
a more professional look at these small D1s
The fully intact Buried Surface Hoar layer with 5-7 mm intact crystals
Pit profile of hardnesses. It goes from right side up, to upside down.
IMG_1051