Avalanche: Turnagain

Location: Sunburst Uptrack @ 2000'

Date:
Observer:
Route & General Observations

Sunburst uptrack along Taylor Creek rim

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalRemote Trigger Unknown
Avalanche Type Wet Loose SnowAspect West
Elevation 2800ftSlope Angle 40deg
Crown Depth 2inWidth 50ft
Vertical Run 300ft  
Avalanche Details

Observed 4 separate Loose Wet avalanches from lowest rock band on W-face of Magnum ~1300. May have happened on evening of 3/24? These continued to release on 3/25 between 1400-1700 into 1 large swath that ran further downhill. Also observed that several large (D2 size) Loose Wet avalanches had occurred on W-face of Lipps during this same time. Other skiers mentioned to us they had seen the ones on Magnum occurring as they skinned up between 1500-1600.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Above freezing, ~35-40 F most of day. High overcast with partial sun breaks. Calm @ 2000'. Nice day overall!

Snow surface

Creamy!

Snowpack

See pit profile @ 2000'. Moderately stable with weakest layer of melt forms on surface. All observations (pole probes, hand shears, pit profile) agree with forecast for area as Loose Wet Problem as biggest hazard below 3000'. No indications of deeper weak layers in snowpack below 2000' to ~120cm down. Right side up snowpack with no indication of slab over weak at this elevation band.

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