Middle Fork

I visited the Middle Fork Sunday and noted a breakable surface crust at all elevations early morning.

• Above 5500 feet, we found 4-6 inches of moist snow below the surface resting on a thick supportable crust.
• The light winds through the day transported a thin layer of dry surface snow on northerly aspects, and we encountered up to 16 inches of dry wind-blown snow in an upper elevation north-facing chute.
• By mid-morning, a loud, rumbling Wet Loose avalanche cycle began on steep southerly slopes receiving direct sun. These slides mainly were D1.5 with several D2 and continued through our 2:00 exit.
• We stuck to northerly slopes and noted large fields of recent rollerballs and Loose Wet slides, which looked like a groomer had been at work removing all of last week's snow. We initiated rollerballs and small Wet Loose slides on our descent. The riding was fun, but a workout in the heavy snow that needed more time before developing into a corn consistency.

Wet Loose avalanches and rollerballs developed throughout the day.