Yule Pass

Quiet avalanche conditions. We found a better-quality refreeze that remained supportive at mid and upper elevations, while trapdoor conditions developed below treeline this afternoon. Steep, high northerly aspects have remained mostly or entirely dry, and these slopes could see future wet slab issues during a bigger warmup later this spring. 

 

 

No signs of instability or recent avalanches.

Below treeline this morning, we found a ~25cm refreeze, which was supportive to skis, sleds, and most boot pen. This afternoon, the snowpack became trapdoor and unsupportive. I tested a few steep slopes this afternoon and couldn’t get any rollerballs or sluffs moving in mature wet grains, and water appears to be draining through the entire snowpack without a lingering wet slab structure. 

A few handpits on east to northeast aspects near and above treeline showed refrozen ice lenses and wet grains in the upper snowpack, with moist, rounded snow still making up a significant portion of the pack. These slopes remained supportive until we left at 1:30 pm, and offered decent corn-like skiing shortly after noon with the top few inches or less getting wet. Northerly aspects have seen minimal meltwater above treeline; some slopes are entirely dry with surface faceting, while others have thin surface crusts.