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While it may not be PC, I can’t imagine a better term for the classic Western #Chugach phenomena of “wind-rape.” Wind-raped is the current state of our beloved #FRange, after a few days of coastal wet and wild Pineapple Express that mostly downsloped the west side. On the bright side, the mountain #snowpack isn’t actually as bad as it looks from town. Yes, some #snow was blown and washed away – but mostly the snow was just re-deposited in the catchment areas where it belongs. The nasty base of facets and depth hoar has metamorphosed into a generally more benign and resilient combo of stout crust and windboard, and upper elevation catchment areas (the slopes, chutes, and gullies where the good riding is at) have gotten deeper and more resistant to future assailment. Now, we’ll have to be on the lookout for weak layers and interfaces as a result of the surface hoar and faceting that developed on the stout and relatively slick surface when we get new snow that is fx the next few days. #FRangeLove

A post shared by Anchorage Avalanche Center (@anchorage_avalanche_center) on Nov 15, 2018 at 10:31am PST