April 13
White Pine to Box Elder and back
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
7200-11200', angles approaching 40°, all aspects
Avalanche activity:
Limited to shallow, new snow, point release sluffs and rollers.
There had been a fairly widespread wet slide cycle from the first warm day.
South facing LCC
east of Tanners
Tanners
Little Pine
West facing under the rock cliffs in Red Pine
also produced several slides, none hitting summer trail.
Slopes skied:
South facing into Dry creek, northwest cirque on Box Elder and Red Pine lake run out to White Pine parking.
Snow conditions:
Lower elevations and south facing were crusted from an overnight refreeze, somewhat inverted, with a better freeze at lower elevations. There was dry powder at upper elevations, spotty, since the pesky northwest wind had once again done some damage. Off aspects had a thin crust.
Daytime heating softened all crusts producing some rollers and point releases. The warming also cooked down the recent storm snow. Below 10k that would allow corn skiing with another good freeze on south facing. Above 10k another day of cooking is required. Shady slopes felt the effect of the high temps, turning the snow damp at all but the highest elevations.
Weather:
Cool in the morning and a cooker by late afternoon.
Evaluation:
The first warm up of the season produced predictable results, with steep sun exposed spitting up. Because the underlying snow had already been through good settlement, wet activity was limited to recent storm snow. There may be an isolated exception or two. Off aspects got into the act, but were mainly rollers and point releases. One more day of heat would continue the cycle, however limited. Timely ascent and descent, following the sun, limits exposure to instability. Cooling should eliminate the wet activity, till the next go around.
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