January 25
Bowman trail, Baker spring, Cabin run, Alexander Basin
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10k, angles over 35°, north, east and west facing aspects.
January 26
Alta guard station, upper Cardiff Fork, upper Mill B south, Mineral Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7200-10800', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
South facing and off aspects were crusted in the a.m. with timely softening( patches of early corn).
Upper elevation north facing has an infinite variety of wind effect. Some of the thinner crusts are dissolving with recrystallization.
Scattered patches of dense, creamy recrystallized snow exist in sheltered terrain at upper and mid elevations.
Lower elevation snow has suffered from heating and is crusted early, softening to damp and sticky later.
Weather
Blue skies, mild temperatures with light wind from the west.
Avalanche activity
Alexander Basin added a few slides after the January 18th visit.
These were primarily dry, shallow pockets on northeast facing aspects at upper elevations and were the result of a period of west wind.
Warm temperatures initiated wet activity in Cardiff Fork with point release sluffs on east facing beginning before noon.
Evaluation
Good stability in the area traveled.
Instability was predictable, heat related in sun exposed terrain.
Future stability would be dependent on new snow amounts, day time heating and wind.
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