Hankin alpine

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Powder
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Alpine slopes

The day was:

• Sunny

Avalanche conditions

• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Quick obs from the Hankin alpine:

In cardiac bowl: sz 2.5- 3avalanche from Tuesday. A number of crowns from sympathetic releases, or impressive propagation. Ran to mid - bottom of run out. Debris indicated it was a soft slab that released. Investigated crown to find the slab was 40cm on the far right. Appears the sliding surface was a weakness between windslabs. CTE6 @ 15 (new 4F wind slab) and CTH25 @ 55 (1F older wind slab from Monday / Tuesday). Avalanche seen in photo 1. Trigger May have been cornice failure on the left side of crowns.

On route up idiots uptrack (~ 1500m, E aspect) we found a pocket of isolated surface hoar (4-5mm) 15cm down Between switch backs we had a 5 m shooting crack (photo 2). Slab was 1f immediately above failure surface. CTE5.

Hasty pits throughout the day at treeline indicated the SH is not widespread in propensity- although keep your heads up out there!

Other Obs: Good skiing was found on slopes sheltered from the wind. SH development is variable. No observed SH at treeline or alpine. Below treeline, it ranges from 2mm - 5mm.

Rain crust below 1200m is losing strength and surface facets are present!