Avalanche: Juneau Mainland

Location: Ptarmigan Ridge

Date:
Observer:
Conor Kincaid
Route & General Observations

I was eating lunch on Canyon Ridge off Blackerby when I observed a natural avalanche on the other side of the bowel. I suspect the avalanche was triggered by wind loaded snow.

On my way up Blackerby ridge, I observed between 10 to 20 centimeters of fresh snow poorly bonded to an icy surface. I occasionally encountered shooting cracks up to three feet long. Test slopes occasionally produced slabs on the new/old snow interface.

I stayed on low angle and heavily wooded terrain as much as possible.

Avalanche Details
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Trigger NaturalAvalanche Type Unknown
Aspect WestElevation 3000ft
Slope AngleunknownCrown Depthunknown
WidthunknownVertical Run 100ft
Red Flags
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Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?Yes
Observer Comments

Shooting cracks up to 3’. Recent avalanches on west facing slopes.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
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Weather

Really windy. At the location of the observation it was blowing from the NW.

Photos & Video
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Look at all the snow transport!  

Location