March 3
Area:
Mill D North to Alexander Basin
Location:
Reynolds to Butler to Wilson to Alexander Basin
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6200-10000’, slope angles to 35°+, all aspects
Avalanche activity:
West Desolation ridge
Rock slabs in Cardiff
Days Draw
crown
God’s Lawnmower
Broads back bowl low crown under the south twin, Mill B South impressive slide from the shoulder of Dromedary north and unknown distance of a coupla miles
Mineral Fork one slide east facing mid canyon
Alexander Basin east chute
crown
Middle Bowl
north and northwest face of Wilson into Alexander Basin.
There were also several wet slides two recent and one several days old on the south facing in Butler Basin, backside of Wilson and Alexander. Those were of shallow, new snow only, depth.
All slides were running into older snow layering with widths of 150’ to several miles. Running from partial to full track. Class 3-5.
Slopes skied:
Reynolds northeast face, Reynolds west facing into Butler Fork, Wilson glade and Alexander Basin from the saddle.
Snow surface and conditions:
The new snow of 12”+ settled nicely. Lighter density over medium to high density. Trail breaking was not too difficult and ski conditions were not to fast or slow. Good support. Wet activity was observed on southeast facing in Butler Basin and the afternoon warming turned south facing into mashed potatoes, icing on tops and bottoms of skis. Cornice drops on Reynolds produced only sluffing. Another group in Wilson Glade, jumping off the cornices along the ridge was initiating surface activity of up to 14 or so inches. These were neither propagating or moving downhill. No cracking and no collapsing.
Weather:
Bluebird for most of the day, with a cloud deck forming in the afternoon accompanied by a westerly breeze. Moderate to mild temperatures.
Evaluation:
A number of natural slides were viewed both from yesterday and also several a day or two old. These were on a variety of aspects with limited activity on south and west. I would expect wet activity form sun warming. A couple were new snow only but, most were running into older snow. The older deeper activity will likely be limited but, not non-existent. Those are probably gonna be large, dangerous and into older snow layering. Potential of triggering is unknown.
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