Quick report
We observed roller balls and pinwheels from recent warm temperatures. In one place in the canyon, we came across large chunks of dirty, wet avalanche debris and cornice pieces that had come from way above during the warm spell in March. The debris from last week's wet avalanches on Mitton Peak was still quite apparent, and we could see where a solo skier had triggered a smaller wet avalanche (that ran on the same dusty bed surface) likely on Monday.
It's great to get up into the Wellsvilles, and the weather and views were stunning. But, we would have found better snow conditions had we been a bit earlier. Unfortunately, daytime temperatures will be even warmer in the next few days, and you'll have to get a pre-dawn start to avoid sticky snow and potential wet avalanches and the threat of cornice falls.
Snowpack
- Instability Comment
- <p>A very large cornice overhangs the main bowl in Rattlesnake Canyon, and even though it was pretty far above us, we felt threatened by it as temperatures climbed in mid-morning. The danger of large cornice falls will increase as daytime temperatures continue to rise in the next few days.</p> <p>The saturated snow became soft and sticky before noon in sheltered east-facing terrain in the Wellsvilles (solar oven effect). We were able to initiate roller balls and small wet sluffs. Later in the day wet avalanches probably were possible for people to trigger. The danger of wet avalanches will increase as daytime temperatures continue to rise in the next few days.</p>
The saturated snow became soft and sticky before noon today. It's always nice to get out in the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness, but the snow was not ideal. We would have found better snow conditions if we had been a couple of hours earlier.