December 20, 2018

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Rabbit Creek observations today from the ridge between Peaks 3 & 4. Surface consists of a mix of fresh crystals, decomposing crystals, and surface hoar with 2-8”+ soft #pow beneath. Underlying the soft surface #snow is a slight crust from the Sunday-Monday freezing drizzle. This crust layer is creating the primary instability issues especially on steep and wind loaded upper elevation terrain. Experienced a subtle collapse (whumph), where a slab cracked out and the #snowpack buckled a bit, traversing between Peaks 3 & 4 (~4000’ SW aspect, see second photo and center waypoint on map). This spot caught and carried a skier and dog and few seasons ago. Triggered a small slab descending Peak 4 near the top in the rocks (~4200’ W aspect, SS-ASc-D1-R1-O, see first photo and east waypoint on map). Triggered a second soft slab on the skier’s left of the cross loaded Peak 4 lower gully (~3000’ W aspect, SS-ASc-D1-R1-O). Observed the existing Peak 3 skintracks cross an especially steep and windloaded feature near the “thumb rock,” which has caught and carried skiers before (~3800’ W aspect, see third photo and west waypoint on map). #FRangeLove #ChugachStatePark #Anchorage #Alaska #Chugach #Mountains #skiing #climbing #Randoism #ThinkGlobalSkiLocal #Fauxcaster

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