Valanga

Crystal Backcountry (Crow/Lake/Cement)

Avalanche.org observerWest Slopes South
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Quick report

We covered a good amount of ground — skinned the Bullion Basin approach to about 5500', then up to the PCT and over to Norse Peak, down into Crow Basin, laps on N aspects into Crow, and then up and over ridges to Lake Basin and then Cement Basin before gaining the ridge next to East Peak and skiing out. We observed various forms and thickness of melt-freeze crust on unshaded E-S-W aspects, mostly breakable but supportable in some areas, and had good skiing on N aspects in unconsolidated, dry and sometimes sugary snow. There was intense wind action (including swirling snow filling the air) along ridge lines with visible scouring and significant transport in some areas.

Avalanche

Significant, chunky wet loose debris (likely from 2024-03-08 warm-up) frozen into place in the 5500-5800 band below East Peak/Platinum Peak. Some frozen pinwheels elsewhere but isolated/one-off.