February 8

Monitors-Wills Hill-West Willow-Beartrap

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

7800-10k, angles over 35°, all aspects

Snow conditions

8-10" of new snow, right side up and well bonded over a mostly crusted base.

Wind from the ene formed snow whales along the ridges, scouring the upper windward starting zones.

Ski cutting produced minor sluffing.

South facing got a little heated but, crusting is questionable.

Weather

Clear to partly cloudy skies, moderate temperatures except, along the ridges where a pesky ene wind kept things cooler.

The wind was blowing 10-15 mph, moving the top light density snow layer

Avalanche activity

New snow sluffing

wmonitor-sluffs

was observed, lookers right, West Monitor bowl, the result of chunks blown off the cornice line.

A little crown near the base went to the old surface, running down hill a few feet.

Evaluation

Mostly stable snow.

There are some drifts of up to about two feet. Found only along the ridges in the area traveled through.

They may be reactive to ski cuts if location is a starting zone or break over.

Wet activity with warming.

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