April 18
Broads and Mill B south
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6000-10500', angles over 40°, all aspects
Avalanche activity:
Glide cracks opening in Broads. This one along the southern edge of Bonkers.
A glide slide from last weekend, south of the diving board.
the run out
Glide crack and heave above the diving board
There were shallow new snow point release slides on northeast facing, beginning before noon. Most were at elevations below 10k, but the pictured activity is at 10400.
Shallow slides of the cement mixer variety were initiated in the afternoon on east facing. Pictured one is at 8k.
Shallow cement mixer slides were also observed as high as 9500 on east facing. Wet activity on west facing was limited to a few rollers by early afternoon.
Slopes skied:
Sidewinder from Dromedary shoulder and Yer crazy in back bowl of Mill B south.
Snow conditions:
Lower elevation were crunchy, still damp, on the ascent. Crusts formed as elevation rose, stout on the off aspects. A few inches of dense, dry powder were found on upper elevation north facing. Heating, melted the crusts and turned the dry snow damp, as the day warmed and temperatures climbed. By afternoon, mid and lower elevations were wet. Pole probing indicated the wet snow extended over a foot deep at mid elevations. Lower elevation snow was close to isothermal.
Weather:
Bluebird in the morning, with cool temperatures. Increasing clouds, warm temperatures and south winds gusting to around 20 mph by early afternoon.
Evaluation:
Stable snow in the morning, deteriorated to wet unstable snow in the afternoon. Forecast suggests a refreeze will be marginal to non existent. Would expect some natural slide activity, including possible glide slides, prior to currently forecast cooling on Sunday.
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