Observation: Skyline

My partner and I noted good sized plumes coming off the Little Horseshoe as we headed up this morning. We noted some drifting occurring in upper Spring City Canyon but not excessive. When we returned to town, I was clearly able to view a number of avalanches in the Little Horseshoe through a high power scope. Many of these were either fresh wind slabs or new cornices that broke off involving only the new wind blown snow. However, there were 3 pockets that broke deeper into old snow part way down the slope. So, the avalanches started as a fresh wind slab that failed and then stepped down into older buried weak snow a little farther down the slope. I would call these avalanches "pockety". They were not breaking very wide, perhaps 100' or a bit more. The significant thing to note is they stepped down into old weak snow.

There are still many places where you step off your machine or skis and you punch right through to the ground. This also demonstrates how the old weak snow has not gained a whole lot of strength yet.

Wind and warm temperatures pretty much took care of the decent riding conditions.  Upper elevation east facing slopes got hit by the wind in the morning.  West facing more so in the afternoon.  All aspects excepts north became damp from warmer temps and sun.  Cold dense powder still remains on the sheltered north aspects.