Lost Couloir

After a week of unsettled weather, it was great seeing so many folks out enjoying a sunny spring day at the pass. Cross-country skiers, sledders, backcountry travelers, and snowmachiners were all out enjoying the cool April day. We headed to IM Bowl hoping the sun might be working to release some surfaces, but when we arrived it was evident that the southeast breeze and cool temps would continue to keep things locked up. We made our way to Gold Cord Basin and decided the bit of drifting and sparkly snow was enticing enough to lure us up the Lost Couloir. While conditions were pretty scratchy, an established booter, great views, some firm chalky snow, and some smooth wind-drifted powder were all a welcome reward. The stout melt-freeze crust that formed over the last two weeks appears to be decomposing after a string of cold nights and some clear skies. Some sparkly surface faceting was observed amongst the recent snow and we encountered a few small, thin wind slabs breaking out underfoot - see snowpack notes. We climbed up to Cross Hill and exited across Gold Cord and out the Rock Garden, searching for even a couple of warmed turns, but all we found was a smooth dust on crust. 

A couple of nights of cold temperatures and occasional clear skies have worked to loosen snow surfaces and break down the stiff melt/freeze crust from last week. While these crusts are still evident on many aspects, and supportable on skis, some faceting has occurred and is leading to surfaces being a little more crumbly and edgable. While overall that seems like a good thing for ski quality, It could lead to areas of instability should we continue to receive precipitation or wind loading. We observed some recent small (1 in deep x 3-5ft wide) wind slabs to fail both above and below these decomposing crusts. Overall the wind loaded snow is still lacking in coverage and continuity to create any significant hazard, but it might be something to keep an eye on if we look to receive any significant precipitation or wind loading.