Western Chugach, Chugach State Park, Turnagain Arm area

Skied from sea level to over 4300′ in the Turnagain Arm area. Snowpit at ~3800′ N aspect 40º slope: ECTX. Snowpack evidenced low energy, high friction, and high strength due to a near melt-freeze cycle and benevolent temperature gradient even on northerly aspects up to ~4000′.

Skier triggered a couple very small (D1 – 5’x5′ max) pockets of wind slab at ~4000′ NW aspect ~40º slope. Warm temperatures yesterday caused point releases from up to ~4000′ that resulted in low volume (D1) but long-running wet loose avalanches on steep northerly aspects. Point releases and wet loose avalanches from yesterday more prevalent on solar aspects. One point release triggered a small (D1) slab on a steep WSW aspect at ~2500′.

Variable surface conditions on all aspects. Subtle melt-freeze crust even on northerly aspects up to ~3500′. “Slide-for-life” melt-freeze crust that had not softened even by late afternoon on northerly aspects below 3000′. Somewhat carve-able “pre-corn” above 2000′ SW to W aspects. Punchy, softened crust on moist snow below 2000′.

Variable surface conditions and “slide-for-life” on steep terrain more of a hazard than avalanches today, as moderate winds kept the snow surface from warming up and prevented wet avalanche activity.