General Observations

Out on the Castner Glacier with the Alaska Alpine Club before heading up to Triangle Peak. Saturday was stormy and gusty, Sunday and Monday were beautiful bluebird days. There was 10-20cm of powder everywhere that didn’t seem to be too wind affected. We dug 3 pits this weekend. 

Pit 1: about 2 miles up the glacier, 2700’. No failure on the ECT, failed on the shovel shear at pretty much the bottom of the snowpack with a large amount of force. The ice layer was still present

Pit 2: on the Castner Glacier at 4600’, NW aspect. There was no ice layer present, and 3 sliding layers. ECT 11 and 22. The failure occurred at 3 distinct layers, 20cm, 40cm, 85cm down. The snow depth was 300+cm deep.

Pit 3: NW face of Triangle at ~5000’. Observed similar results as pit 2, but only saw two sliding layers (30cm and 80cm)

The top of the ridge was deep, with waist deep powder. It was obviously carried by the wind, but wasn’t consolidated yet.