Quick report
We toured over Talking Mt and then dropped back to Meyers on a northeast-facing slope north of Flagpole Peak. Below-freezing temperatures this morning quickly warmed up well above freezing. There was a mix of melt-freeze crusts on sunnier spots and impressive near surface facets in shadier zones along the ridge. At the classic cornice spot just east of Becker Peak enormous blocks of cornice had previously broken and some existing cornice was cracking . The cornices near the summit of Talking Mt were also significant but did not appear to have undergone a collapse cycle yet. On the north facing slopes of Talking Mt. we found enjoyable near surface facets top to bottom. While we were skinning up Flagpole we viewed a large crown below the summit of Baldy/Peak 9155. The photo here was taken by a friend who had a better angle. The crown appeared to be enormous (someone in my group estimated 15'....which is likely way off but gives a sense of how large it appears). This is the same slide that was observed on 2/22. The snow on the south-facing ramp leading up to Flagpole was soft corn. On the top of the Flagpole ridge I made a few turns on a north east slope that only produced cold snow sluff. Dropping northeast trees down to Meyers, we again found soft near surface facets. Below 7400' on an east aspect we did see roller ball activity and the snow quality kind of turned to garbage.