Observation: Juneau Mainland

Location: Thunder Mountain

Date:
Observer:
Matt Callahan
Route & General Observations

Thunder Mountain trail. Snowshoes useful for the last couple hundred feet. Spikes were necessary for the final windswept step to the top.

Red Flags
Red flags are simple visual clues that are a sign of potential avalanche danger. Please record any sign of red flags below.
Obvious signs of instability
Recent Avalanches?Yes
Collapsing (Whumphing)?No
Cracking (Shooting cracks)?No
Observer Comments

Crowns from last storm cycle were visible, and there was evidence of wind transport.

Weather & Snow Characteristics
Please provide details to help us determine the weather and snowpack during the time this observation took place.
Weather

Party sunny, warm, calm.

Snow surface

0-20cm light, fresh snow. Depth and stiffness varied due to wind transport. Some surface hoar.
Crust beneath freshies was breakable when covered but had hardened where wind blew off surface layer of snow.

Snowpack

Dug 110 cm pit @ 2600' on a S facing 32 degree slope. 200cm deep
Beneath surface fluff and the initial crust, snow was packed, wet, and heavy with several crusts sandwiched in there.
ECTN8 @ 15 cm (broke below crust)
ECTP31 @ 70 cm Q1 I pried pit forward with shovel after shoulder taps to trigger this release. This layer would be difficult to trigger in the location observed but the cohesive heavy snow above would produce a nasty slide if it failed.

Photos & Video
Please upload photos below. Maximum of 5 megabytes per image. Click here for help on resizing images. If you are having trouble uploading please email images separately to staff.

IMG_20210121_120834295  

IMG_20210121_123803468  

Crown from recent storm  

Location