Alud

Port Valdez, Benzene

Joshua McDonaldMaritime
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Foto de la observación 1Foto de la observación 2

Quick report

Cracking
isolated

Windslabs of various thickness, hardness, and sensitivity were present throughout the area. Slabs ranged from a few CMs to 20cm thick and were reactive to ski cuts on the skin track. Shooting cracks were observed in soft and hard slabs. Hard slabs produced cracks up to 3 meters, failing on top of old storm snow. Isolated Pockets were small and discontinuous,

Weather

Air Temp
7 degrees - Sugarloaf wx station
Cloud Cover
few
Wind Loading
moderate
Rain Elevation
Rain crust under fresh snow to 2700 feet
Recent Snowfall
10cm additional on top of oder storm snow
Snow Avail For Transport
large amounts

Steady East to NE wind is actively transporting large amounts of snow in alpine areas throughout the port. Wind loading is listed as moderate because strong winds at ridgetops are suspending and sublimating rather than depositing large amounts of snow.

Snowpack

Snowpack depth ranged from 130 cm down low to 170cm at 1500 feet.  A 1.3 meter Pit was dug at 1500ft. Moderate ECTN scores at 15cm, 25cm, and 35cm down were noted within new windblown snow. No deeper layers showed any reactivity.  Snow below 70cm was moist. 

Avalanche

Old storm avalanches were observed on Benzene's N face in the usual areas but no recent avalanche activity was observed