March 21
Bowman trail-Yellow Jacket-Alexander Basin-Gobblers Knob-Porter Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-10200', angles over 35°, all aspects
Snow conditions
Surface was well frozen after the second consecutive night of cool temperatures.
Ski crampons were handy for the early west facing ascent
Softening of sun exposed was timely, although, cool temperatures prevented any sort of over heating at mid and upper elevations.
Southeast facing still firm at noon and northwest facing remained so into late afternoon.
Sun exposed lower elevations were slushy but supportable by late afternoon.
Observed glide, non-existent.
The only slide activity observed was
wet point releases, several days old in sun warmed, west facing rocky areas.
Wind and sun sheltered had some dense and creamy in select locations.
Weather
Sunny skies with high clouds increasing into the afternoon. Moderate to warm temperatures, dependent on aspect and elevation.
Winds increasing from the south, gusting to 15 mph.
Evaluation
Stable snow was found on all aspects at all elevations.
Weather guessers have a few inches? suggested so, instability would be from bonding or lack of to old surfaces and drifting of whatever falls.
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