North of warm lake
Quick report
General snow depths 5000’-3-6 inches 6000’-12- inches 7000’-2-3 feet 8000-3-5 feet 20 degrees and frozen/firm “spring like” snowpack to start at 4900’. Many down logs, shrubs made travel challenging until 6500’ I utilized ski crampons until 7000’. Evidence of warm up from earlier in the week with roller balls. Did not experience any collapsing or cracking of the snow in the west/nw, east/ne aspects that I traveled. I stayed away from due north and in general found thin but pleasant skiing above 7300’, it made the hefty price of admission worthwhile. Dug a quick pit on a e/ne aspect at 7800’. PWL over 3 feet down still had me concerned with my stability tests. This area is always thinner/weaker/sketchier than the mountains around McCall, and this year is one to dial it back even more. Today was simply an information gathering day. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the sleeping dragon awoken in this area over the next few days of rain/high freezing levels.
Avalanche
Due north at 8200’, looked to have happened past few days during the warm up, likely failing on PWL (old November snow) Did not see any other old crowns.