Avalanche

Tincan

Andrew SchauerTurnagain Pass
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Quick report

We got out for a look around with clear skies and a dusting of new snow from Friday. We found 2-4" new snow on the ground, which had buried some really variable older snow. Surfaces are improving, but we could really use a few more inches. 

The faceted snow that we've been tracking since mid-December hasn't changed, but for the most part there wasn't enough new snow above it to make it too much of a concern just yet. The exception to this would be in terrain where recent winds have blown this weekend's snow into deeper slabs.

We also drove down to Summit Lake to get eyes on a broader area and did not see any signs of recent natural avalanches in Summit or Turnagain — including a lack of glide activity.

Weather

Air Temp
single digits below 0 F
Cloud Cover
scattered
Wind Loading
light
Rain Elevation
0
Recent Snowfall
2-4" (5-10 cm)
Snow Avail For Transport
moderate amounts

Snowpack

2" very low-density new snow at road level, just a little bit more up high, maybe 4" at 3000'.  We did not dig any full pits, but were pretty consistently finding this new dusting was sitting on top of a thin wind-hardened layer, with punchy, faceted snow below it. 

No signs of shooting cracks, no collapsing. Some sluffing in steeper terrain.

Avalanche

There were a handfull of slulffs in Hippy Bowl, and one small pocket of a slab avalanche that looked like it was skier-triggered just below a cornice. This was only maybe 10' wide and 6-8" deep or so.