South Fork of Avalanche Canyon

We traveled up to 10,500' in the South Fork of Avalanche Canyon. Conditions were variable today. While we ascended east-facing terrain in the morning, temperatures remained relatively cool. The brief period of east winds yesterday had stripped much of the new snow at lower and middle elevations. At upper elevations, we found 2-3 inches of new snow that was becoming wet in the late morning sun. Small (D1) wet loose avalanches were becoming sensitive to human triggers on steep east-facing terrain. These small avalanches were running sluggishly, without gaining much additional snow, but did travel far distances on the buried crust. These small human-triggered slides were present up to 10,000 feet on east-facing terrain. The sun heated any snow that was on a solar aspect today, but we only noticed small slides on east-facing terrain. 

North-facing slopes have had new snow stripped off of them by recent NW/NE winds above 10,000'. Recent cold temperatures froze north-facing surfaces, creating very hard riding conditions where new snow was stripped away. Where new snow remained, winds had firmed the snow significantly. Pockets of wind-loaded snow exist in upper elevation terrain on steep, exposed slopes. While these slabs were behaving quite stubbornly, we talked to a party that triggered a D1 wind slab on steep north-facing terrain at 10,500'. We found a few of these isolated wind slab pockets in upper elevations. They remained dry today and may still be triggered in very steep terrain over the next few days. 

Small D1 wind slab on north-facing terrain at 10400' - 2 to 7 inches deep. Small wet loose avalanches on east-facing terrain at 10000' - 2 to 3 inches deep.