December 21, 2018 | Anchorage Avalanche Center – Alaska Backcountry Ski Guide & Avalanche Education Provider for the Chugach Mountain Institute

View this post on Instagram

#SoFo observations today from the ridge between 3 Bowls and Harp Mountain. Did not observe the freezing drizzle crust (observed yesterday in the Front Range) at any elevation. #Snowpit at 3870’, 298* S aspect, 29* slope, 100cm HS, ECTP18 Q1 Sudden Collapse down 55cm on facets above melt-freeze crust (see videos and map for location). Red flags of #avalanche danger observed today: 3 recent D1 natural avalanches on leeward upper elevation slopes triggered by cornice falls (all 3 on west aspects above ~4000’) and active windloading throughout the day.

A post shared by Anchorage Avalanche Center (@anchorage_avalanche_center) on Dec 21, 2018 at 7:42pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Please travel with care this weekend if recreating in or around #avalanche terrain. There’s great #pow in many areas of the Western #Chugach, but enjoying it safely and responsibly will require diligent avalanche assessment and terrain management!

A post shared by Anchorage Avalanche Center (@anchorage_avalanche_center) on Dec 21, 2018 at 7:53pm PST

South Fork Eagle River – North Bowl:

	skinned up traditional hunters pass route to north bowl, skied skiers’ left of the bowl. uptrack snowpack layers similar to what AAC assessments showed earlier, plus mild impact from recent uptick in winds. variable incidence and shallow (3-4″) windslab of varying firmness forming on leeward slopes and catchments. winds were steady around 15 out of the SSE, snow transport was obvious, cornice on top of north bowl was building somewhat and new addition was breakable with jumping on it. bowl (skiers left) was great, very minor wind crust up high. that ice crust observed in the frange (peak 3-4) was present around 3400`. lower bowl was more wind affected than leeward upper but snowpack remained variable and occasionally shallow. no shooting crack aside from isolated steep drifts in valley bottom and hunter pass. no whoomphing. small old cornice collapses on north bowl seen.

skinned up traditional hunters pass route to north bowl, skied skiers’ left of the bowl.

uptrack snowpack layers similar to what AAC assessments showed earlier, plus mild impact from recent uptick in winds. variable incidence and shallow (3-4″) windslab of varying firmness forming on leeward slopes and catchments.

winds were steady around 15 out of the SSE, snow transport was obvious, cornice on top of north bowl was building somewhat and new addition was breakable with jumping on it. bowl (skiers left) was great, very minor wind crust up high. that ice crust observed in the frange (peak 3-4) was present around 3400`. lower bowl was more wind affected than leeward upper but snowpack remained variable and occasionally shallow.

no shooting crack aside from isolated steep drifts in valley bottom and hunter pass. no whoomphing. small old cornice collapses on north bowl seen.