Lodge Run

Looking for an adventure and some definition in the flat light, we headed towards the rocky couloirs on Marmot. On the ascent of the south ridge, we observed a lot of firm, but recrystallized and faceted surfaces. Polar aspects held soft snow, and solar ones were firm and crusty, and everything in between was just that. Our descent through the Lodge Run was on mostly firm, refrozen crusts with the occasional breakable turn. The refrozen rollerballs and debris were soft enough to navigate. With more snow on the way, we acknowledged that this recent storm was a likely indicator of things to come, an additional load that could stress weak grains in the snowpack, and a fresh coat of paint that will easily melt away when the sun returns. 

We carried out a quick patrol on the snowmachines from IM Bowl to Lane Basin, looking for recent avalanches. We observed widespread rollerballing and wet loose activity on steep westerly slopes from the last few afternoons of sun. Increasing clouds and a light easterly breeze cooled things off today. Our relatively weak, faceted snowpack is experiencing some big changes with the recent warming, melting being the biggest. Rocks, willows, and tundra are becoming more exposed every day. Low elevations are becoming less travelable, and some snowmachine trails are in rough shape. 

Surfaces were faceted by some overnight radiation in the recent snow. We didn't dig any formal pits but encountered a mostly thin, firm, and sometimes breakable medium. Recent warm temps and strong solar had put a crust on westerly aspects, where refrozen debris and firm, slick bed surfaces could be found. On polar aspects, soft snow was preserved, but the shadows are shrinking.