10,696' - GTNP

Toured up towards 10,696 to see how the recent snow is behaving in the upper elevations. Sustained wind out of the northwest was actively loading leeward slopes along the ridge between 25 Short and 10,696. I stomped on a loaded feature on the south side of the “Shoot the Moon” col and triggered a small wind slab (6” deep and 50’ wide). Additional wind slab development appeared likely in the upper elevations given the pluming observed higher on 10,696 and Buck.

We observed multiple loose snow avalanches (D1) in the rocky, south/west facing terrain of Avalanche Canyon. These most likely occurred yesterday afternoon (4/1). One was fairly large and entrained a good bit of snow, maybe D2. Natural loose snow sluffing began around 11 am on the east facing terrain of Mount Wister.

Sun and warm temps yesterday resulted in a nice, breakable crust on most aspects except due north below 9,000’.

Triggered several small (