Detailed Observation

Date2021-01-24
LocationValdez
ObserverAidan Shafland
AvalancheN

General Observations

Tour up Nicks Happy Valley. Started seeing debris at the mouth of the valley and toured up to the bowl below berlin wall. Dug a pit at 3700ft, N aspect, 30° slope, ECTX, AK block test 50×90 produced shearing @80cm after 15 hard jumps. Seemed pretty hard to affect. Good bonding throughout the snowpack. Snow depth: 225cm

Pictures of block test results and a crown at the top of berlin wall. The avalanche ran all the way down the wall, down both sides of the valley (both in the gulley and along lookers right as you go up). Some wind affect on the snow that was deposited on top of the debris. Found 1″ windslab on leeside of small ridge that was reactive, and about 6-7″ cornice that failed with my weight.

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Weather Observations

Observed Avalanche Activity