Detailed Observation
Date | 2019-12-08 |
Location | Eastern Alaska Range |
Observer | David Hickle |
Avalanche | N |
General Observations
Our group of two skinned/booted most of the way up Canwell Peak today and skied the north face. At lower elevations, there is a significant melt/freeze crust on the surface, up higher (~ 3200', N aspect), this transitioned to a melt/freeze crust with significant wind effects. We dug a pit around 4000' on the north face and found approx. 200cm of snow with a 1" wind slab on top followed by ~ 100cm of 1-finger snow (no weak layers noted). The top 1" failed at CT-4, followed by an ECT-X (even after pounding on the shovel).
– Wind slabs were on most NW ridgelines
– 1-1.5' of high-quality powder on most NE ridgelines