Detailed Observation
| Date | 2021-02-26 |
| Location | Haines |
| Observer | Jeff Moskowitz |
| Avalanche | N |
General Observations
Lutak Zone: Whumphing and shooting cracks anywhere the new snow had condensed to form a slab over weak old snow/crust facets combos. Observed a recent natural avalanche on NE-aspect around 3,150′ that ran 700′ (more details below). On a E-aspect at 2,800′ had a significant settlement that turned us around on rime and wind swept ridge line. Best conditions were in tight trees below 2,000′ where anchoring was good and a slab was unlikely to peel off, or take us into a terrain trap. Widespread new snow/old snow interface was mapped throughout the day with probing and hallow drum sound. Test pit revealed very poor structure that did not instill confidence. Scroll down to read more…
Uploaded Images
Weather Observations
| New Snow Amount | 40cm |
| Foot Penetration | 40cm |
| Ski Penetration | 20cm |
| Wind Speed | Light |
| Wind Direction | West |
| Sky Cover | Clear to Overcast |
| Snowfall Rate | None |
| Temperature | -1C to -7C |
Snowpack Observations
Below 1,500' 40-60cm of new snow was over a hard old snow surface. This was observable probing and digging quick hand pits and by isolated collapses, shooting cracks, and hallow sound. No activity in steep trees with good anchoring. Stayed away from anywhere remotely steep and open. Below 3,000' multiple melt-freeze crust/facet combos in the top 100cm of snow. Three distinct layers with similar characteristics: old facets and surface hoar above and below a crusts CT13 SC (sudden collapse) down 40cm from the most recent snowfall last weekend. Easy to moderate results with mega-poor structure. 300' x 400' settlement whumph on 30+ degree slope at 2,800' where new snow had formed a windslab over a persistent weak layers. That was spooky and another red flag, so we turned around. Surface wind slab was reactive with shooting cracks and visible slab fractures.
Observed Avalanche Activity
| Location | Ripinsky Back Bowl |
| Type | Soft Slab |
| Elevation | 3150' |
| Aspect | NE |
| Size | D2 |
| Depth | 40-60cm |
Other Remarks
Natural avalanche on 40 degree slopes that ran on new snow/old snow interface consisting of facets over a crust. Crown was 200' wide and ran 700'. Start zone was a convex alpine bowl. A larger trigger could probably have pulled out a even deeper slide with the multiple interfaces that could step down. Beware of remote triggers and any terrain with consequences.