There's no better time to chase your big spring objectives. Bring sharp tools, keep track of cornices in overhead terrain, and start and finish early to avoid isothermal conditions.
Large cornices still loom over many ridgelines and they won't hang on forever. Be aware of overhead hazards and stay back from cornices on ridges.
This region is the most likely in the Southwest for a cornice fall to trigger a surprise slab.
Slushy, isothermal snow conditions often emerge on sun-facing slopes during the heat of the day. Plan your route with this in mind to avoid getting surprised by difficult travel and rising wet loose avalanche danger.
No new avalanches were reported Tuesday and the trend of diminishing activity continues.
Explosives control in the Duffey corridor on Monday produced mainly small wet loose avalanches but also a few slabs up to size 1.5. One of these failed on the 30 - 40 cm-deep late-March crust.
Wet loose activity to size 2 and several wind slabs were reported on Sunday. Check out the report for one of the wind slabs HERE.
If you get out, post a MIN!
Spring-like melt-freeze cycles now characterize a daily evolution of surface conditions on all but north-facing slopes above 2000 m, where about 10 cm of dry snow may still be found. It overlies old wind-affected snow above this elevation and a firm crust below.
Two older crusts exist 1-1.5 m deep at treeline and above. Concern for these layers is limited to high north aspects where large cornice fall may have enough force to trigger a slab. The mid and lower snowpack are otherwise well settled.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 5 to 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline high temperature 4 °C. Freezing level to 2400 m.
Friday
Sunny before clouding over near end-of-day. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 6 °C. Freezing level to 2600 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud with scattered light rain, less than 1 mm. 15 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
