March 2

Alta guard station, keyhole entry upper Cardiff, Cardiac Ridge from the top, Ivory Flakes, northwest chute Mineral Fork.

first-look

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

7200'-10800', angles over 35°, all aspects.

Snow conditions

Coupla inches over a dense, mostly spongy base

Wind pack powder, all aspects.

nw-chute

A little surface sluffing on the steepest slopes retaining a harder old surface.

mineral

Mank below about 8k in Mineral Fork.

Weather

Mostly cloudy with patches of blue, moderate temperatures and light wind.

Avalanche activity

Active weather, strong wind and heavy snow late Friday-early Saturday, produced several avalanches.

toledo-pocket

Holy Toledo

slide-zoom

Santiago area in upper Mineral fork released a significant amount of snow, leaving a good sized debris pile in the lower apron.

Evaluation

March arrives like a roaring lion.

In the spring, with a deeper snow pack, most avalanches occur during and shortly after storms.

Extra caution is required as the stormy period progresses.

Afterward, good stability in the area traveled.

Weather guessers suggest another incoming so...

Stability will be dependent on bonding within layering and the old surface.

Increasing potential for active wind drifts with loading.

Possible wet activity with warming

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