No red flags, but wind loading was very apparent on surface snow
Observation: Turnagain
Location: TIncan
1030-My partner and I ascended standard skin track, conducted instability tests in alpine, and skied two laps within Common Bowl/Treeline. Loose Dry, skier triggered releases were visible from 19/20JAN snowfall within Alpine, primarily within Hippy Bowl and Common Bowls northern corniced ridge. Wind was calm to light throughout the day with the sky opening up after 3pm.
Observer Comments
Weather
Broken sky trending to pockets of blue throughout the day, with OVC skies over southern end of Turnagain/Summit.
Calm winds below 2,000ft with a consistent 5mph southern wind with gusts to 10mph above 2,500ft once exposed on Ridgeline.
S-1 for sporadic periods from 11-1pm.
Snow surface
Heavy wind-deposited snow with obvious ripples on all surfaces above 1,500ft. with heavily rimed precipitation particles from Treeline to Alpine.
Surface hoar still within the lower meadows below 1,200ft. within crevasses and tree wells.
Right-side up, recent fresh snow, 35cm below surface and very dry throughout entirety of snowpack.
Snowpack
12:45pm
Common Bowl Ridgeline Approach
3,200ft, SW Aspect, 20° Slope, Air: -18°C
HS 178cm
*See Hardness Profile Photo/Field Book)
Tests:
CT17 SP (80cm below surface on .5-1mm Facets intermixed with rounds. )
ECTX
CT 17 SP, 80cm below surface on Facets/Rounds
Facets on propagating layer, CT 17 SP
Hardness profile, 3,020 ft, Tincan
Field Book
Widespread wind deposited ripples on surface snow, 2,400ft.