June Backcountry

My goals for today were to investigate our wet loose avalanche problem. I found loose wet avalanches possible after 1 pm on southerly terrain below 11,000'. Wet surface snow was found on southeast, south, and southwest aspects near and below treeline, late in the day. Steep, thin, and rocky terrain was prime real estate for triggering wet loose avalanches in the afternoon.

The likelihood of triggering a wet loose avalanche bumped from unlikely to possible from 1 pm to 3 pm today. 

After 1:30 pm, I was able to deliberately trigger 2 small wet loose avalanches on steep south-facing terrain around 10,500'.

I travelled on a variety of aspects and elevations and found the surfaces to be easily summarized:

• Firm wind board and sastrugi in exposed places hammered by the wind.
• Before 11 am, a thin, frozen melt-freeze crust at the surface in sunny locations. After 11 am, I found the surface softening, but above 11,000 feet, light east winds kept the surface frozen.
• In places protected from both the wind and the sun, I found great ski quality in faceting, dry snow