Western Chugach, Chugach State Park, South Fork Eagle River

Localized wind transport of the very dry and low-density snow from March 1-2.

Shooting crack and very small and soft, human-triggered wind slab just off leeward ridge of Wild Side run (south aspect ~3650′).

A few collapses (“whumphs”) on December-January facets between 2000-3600′ multiple aspects.

Riding quality remained excellent (several inches of “blower” pow) in North Bowl, Wild Side, French Bowl, and Swiss Bowl.  Snow from March 1-2 smoothed over paths and debris from 2/17-20 catastrophic natural avalanche cycle, and greatly improved riding quality in avalanche-damaged areas.

 

Western Chugach, Chugach State Park, Front Range, Rabbit Creek valley

Tour towards Rabbit Lake, finding good quality consolation turns after bailing on our intended objective :/

Widespread snow flagging off high peaks, from NW winds. It hung around in the air longer than usual, filling up the skies of the valley. Interestingly, we did not encounter significantly wind loaded terrain, despite our high point of 4550’ and what I would think of as a lee aspect. Maybe it was stuck in the skies, or we played our aspects just right.

Calm period between 10am and 12pm, then winds picked back up. The peaks around Anchorage seemed to exhibit more flagging than the peaks deeper in the Chugach in the afternoon.

Steep solar aspects where the wind was calm were just starting to warm up with the sun high and bright in the sky.

Snow transport at Peak 3-4 ridgeline: 

Very dry and low-density snow hung in the air, forming a sun dog:

More upper elevation snow transport:

Wind-affected snow near Rabbit Lake: