Detailed Observation

Date2022-01-16
LocationHaines
ObserverAAS Level 1 Rec
AvalancheN

General Observations

During the Alaska Avalanche School Level 1 in Haines on day 3, students observed obscured skies, calm winds, mild temperatures, light rain & snow, with fog around 1000′. At a pit site on a north aspect at 900′ a saturated surface snowpack had rain runnel with several wet melt-freeze crusts and percolation columns. At 1200′ on a north-west aspect the snowpack was more contiguous with less noticeable layers, than the pit site lower in elevation. A variety of compression, extended column and propagation saw tests were performed. Most pits revealed non-propagating pit results down 30-40cm.  One shovel shear test on a more northerly aspect produced a noteworthy surface hoar layer that had laid down and was visible on the block. In the forest and at the road water was running under the snow, down ravines and gullies.

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Weather Observations

Observed Avalanche Activity