Quick report
Obvious hard overnight freeze was slow to soften up w low temp despite calm/sunny day, as felt underfoot and by sounds of early pm far off skiers. Didn’t feel soft til mid-pm & that below 8K’. Canyon creek beds below 5-5.5K’and Reid bergschrunds quickly opening. That said, good coverage, overnight freeze and colder day permitted both quality descent thru Little AK cliff band crux chute to 5K’ in ZZ Canyon drainage and stable snow-only reascent by mix of steep bootpack and skinning (incl up main lower 200 Turns bowl line which would have been a phenomenal spring ski. Timberline climbers trail safety side note: On official climbers trail bit above Silcox, a “closed” sign for winching ops. Couldn’t tell it was flashing til right on it due to sunny day. In exit traverse to zigzag boundary, saw another above me skinning a nearby cat track straight to and almost next to active winching cat (ie I could see the wire). IOW By accidentally following the wrong cat track, you don’t come across the closed sign.
Avalanche
Lots of D1-2 loose wet of varying age and elevation on east-facing walls of Zigzag Canyon. D1.5ish ESE-facing prob wind slab (last pic)