Lundy

My goals for today were to monitor the warming surface and to hone in on the distribution of our wet loose problem. While zig-zagging across a south-facing bowl, I found rapidly changing surface conditions based on aspect. As I travelled on east-southeast or west-southwest aspects, the surface was softening, but not nearly to the extent of southerlies. The wet loose problem is fueled by the sun combined with warm air temperatures but the sun is driving its distribution. 

I found this problem generally pretty insignificant and easily avoidable. While the ingredients are there, there is pretty minimal natural activity, and at least today, the wet loose problem only became possible for a few hours this afternoon. 

I triggered 1 very small wet loose avalanche on a due south aspect at 9,000' while descending. 1 pm.

Surfaces warmed slightly earlier today. I began kicking rollerballs on a due south aspect around 9,000' at noon. In the Lundy area, I found:

• The snow depth is lower than in nearby areas.
• There was an average of 75cm in the gut of a south-facing bowl at 9500'. 
• The upper 25cm was moist to wet and sitting on top of the 1/1 crust. 
• Old rounds, or rounding facets, comprised the lower chunk of the snowpack. 
• I briefly touched some sheltered east-facing terrain around 8,000' that held near-surface facets and did not hold a melt-freeze crust.