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.

back-bowls

The only slide activity observed was

nw-chutes

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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March 21 journal

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