Quick report
From May 1st through May 3rd, there was a temperature inversion on Snoqualmie Pass which has resulted in poor overnight refreezes at pass level at approximately 3000 feet (32F). Due to the high overnight freezing level, we started our day trip to ski the Snot Couloir from the Alpental ski area base at 6:30am on May 3rd. We boot packed directly out of the parking lot for approximately 1000 feet up the Phantom Slide. The bottom part of the Slide has completely melted out. Above approx 3500 feet on the Slide, we encountered continuous snow and were able to set a good bootpack. Exposed snow slopes showed signs of superficial refreeze while snow covered terrain under the cover of trees remained soft throughout the night. Near and above tree line (>5000 ft), although not required, we utilized ski crampons which made travel more efficient. There are sign of loose wet avalanche activity and poor supportable snow surfaces everywhere throughout the Alpental Valley and in the Chair Peak cirque. The snowpack is wet in the top 50cm in most places, with the exception of upper elevation north aspects. Upon arrival at the Snow Couloir, we found moist snow in the top of the chute with recent roller ball activity and variable skiing throughout the majority the chute, especially on the fan that deposits you into the upper Thunder Valley. We escaped the the Thunder by skinning to a col on Avalanche Mountain's south ridge before skiing wet snow back to Snow Lake and returning via Source Lake. There many signs of fresh and recent D2 to D3 loose wet avalanches throughout the Chair Peak cirque and Source Lake fan, many slopes are covered with roller balls and wet slide debris. There is still continuous snow cover for both uphill and down travel on skis from Source Lake to the Alpental ski area parking lot #6
Avalanche
From May 1st through May 3rd, there was a temperature inversion on Snoqualmie Pass which has resulted in poor overnight refreezes at pass level at approximately 3000 feet (32F). There are sign of loose wet avalanche activity and poor supportable snow surfaces everywhere throughout the Alpental Valley and in the Chair Peak cirque. The snowpack is wet in the top 50cm in most places, with the exception of upper elevation north aspects.