General Observations

Haines Pass Zone:

Observed a recent natural avalanche below a cornice from the road at 5500’ W-aspect ran to ~4700′. Leeward slopes have formed wind slab and cornices due to the prevailing south winds.

Partly cloudy with temps 15-20F. Moderate S-wind was enough to fill in tracks during the day and build surface slab that presented some shooting cracks.

Dug 2 snow pits:
1) 4700’/ NE-aspect/95cm total depth/Nov. 20 melt-freeze crust down 35cm
2) 4500’/NE-aspect/230cm total depth/Nov. 20 melt-freeze crust down 85cm

The melt-freeze interface was fairly well bonded with no instability test results.  Plenty of variability in snow depth with the wind transport. Pit 2 was next to where I dug last week when there was 75cm total. Wind can transport snow up to x10 faster than it can fall from the sky.

Keep in mind that it would still be possible to trigger deeper layers in the snowpack from shallow trigger points such as rocks or alders.