Snowpack
Cooler weather along with below freezing temperatures overnight slowed the meltdown and rapid deterioration of the snowpack from a week ago. The overnight refreeze was more of the flash variety, but it was enough to provide a decent corn snow/spring diurnal cycle.
On May 11 east facing was softening at 10:30/11. Though Friday May 12 was a bit warmer and things were ideal near 10, perhaps slightly earlier where slopes were receiving direct sun. The morning of the 12th had horizon level clouds at sunrise and a thin cloud deck in the high alpine - which preserved the snow a bit longer. Winds were also light to almost non-existent Friday until you reached the high peak summits, where they were still light with a northerly direction.
The new snow received on Tuesday had warmed into hot pow in the upper chute and was easily sloughed off - though the melt freeze bed surface was softened. However, activity today was small and only limited to skier triggers with a few natural rollers falling off the steep rocks - given the lack of new snow, previous shed cycle, and also our timing.
One wet snow slide on the falling ice glacier on Moran was one of the more recent pieces of activity I’ve seen - the upper bowl also has an opening bergschrund below the rock. Additionally, the skier’s left side of the Skillet - mid slope, has a small crevasse opening up. Lastly, I heard reports of some running water in a few chutes in Avalanche canyon.
Of note, I wouldn’t recommend the lakes anymore for travel. Following the heat during the first week of May, open water has emerged on several of the big lakes, so plan travel accordingly.