April 21
Mill D north-Desolation-Dutches-McDonalds-Beartrap-West Desolation-Spruces
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
7500-10200', angles over 35°, all aspects.
Snow conditions
Snow at the trailhead was crusted + a few graupel(hail?) pellets.
That condition remained the case to about 8500 + or -.
Above that elevation, there were several inches of settled very dense snow.
Cornices still don't know it's spring and continue growing.
A thunderstorm, blowing through around 2 pm, added another coupla inches of dense, mostly graupel, snow.
A lack of bonding combined with strong accompanying wind from the west increased the instability.
New snow capped the lower elevation crust making the exit "fast and fun".
Weather
Overcast skies, mild temperatures. Thundershower in the afternoon with heavy snow and increased wind, gusting over 30 mph from the west, continuing.
Avalanche activity
Scattered drifting early in the day was reactive to cornice kicking,
with a narrow slide running downhill a surprising distance.
The thundershower added to the drifting
and loosened the bond, with a shallow slide propagating
several hundred feet across the north face of West Desolation ridge.
Another round of deep slab was observed in upper Alexander Basin.
Timing?
Evaluation
Instability from drifting, especially at upper elevations.
Wet activity possible with warming.
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