Snowslide and North Core and Humphrey's Cirque

We left top patrol at approximately 11:00 AM, with the inteition of assessing surface conditions, wind slabs, coverage and the presence of any hardness differentials within N. Facing snowpack, particularly the presence of PWLs on these shaded slopes.  We hiked up the Agassiz ridgeline in alternating drifting snow and rocks, reaching the summit of Agassize a little before noon.  Wx was sunny and winds were calm, except for occassional cycles in the mid-20s--we were surpised how the wind would pick up out of no where and then dissapate.

On the ridgeline we had wind drifted coverage down to the start of Snowslide.  IB and Blowout were . . .well, blown out and there was only minimal coverage over to the Agassiz/Fremont saddle . . a thin line existed via Survey Post.  The top 500 ft. of Snowslide was windboarded pencil, but carvable with pencil over 4F wind deposited crystals.  Skiing was good until the 11K line where it turned manky.  The corn cycle has yet to start on these East facing slopes.  

We skinned on melting surface snow to the top of N. Core.  From N. Core we skied more wind and then evenentually sun crusted snow that was sometimes supportable, and sometimes breakable.  Classically variable.  Snow depths seemed to average about 150 cms and coverage was consistent.  We skinned out the standard cirque exit and ran into two other parties that had skied the cirque (heck yeah, and Teegee Teegee).  Surfaces on east aspects were also variable and snowdepths averaged around 100 cms.  Wind and suncrust alternated depending on microaspects.  The lower 300 ft. has started to corn up, the rest was breakable and supportable crust with sun crusts up to 5 cms in size on top of 1F wind deposited snow with 4F beneath.

We ski kicked on south facing slopes but couldn't get any wet loose releases.

Anti-tracks were present throughout the tour--evidence of the recent strong winds.

As temperatues warm in the next few days the likelihood of wet loose avalanches seems likely.  Today, however, there was not enough free water in the surface of the snowpack.  No roller balls were observed.

We saw what looked to be some small dry/loose debris at the top of the rocks near Snowslide proper.  Evidence from the avalanches last week near Rustlers were barely visible.  

Surface conditions were often wind affected and some, depending upon micro aspects were sun affected.  West facing slopes were soft BTL.  No hardness differential noted on N. facing slopes except for wind hardening of the upper 3-6 cms.