Kashagnak

Conditions above 3,500ft on N-aspects were ideal with a strong crust that capped layers beneath and cold fresh snow on top. Widespread avalanche crowns and debris clued us into layers deeper in the snowpack that would become problematic without the supportable crust. We stuck to deep consolidated slopes on NW aspects, probed continuously for the crust, and re-assessed where it went away. The terrain we avoided included run-outs beneath rapidly warming slopes, or where cornices were present and shallow punchy areas around rocks.

Heard and saw one natural avalanche D2+ on a SW-aspect at 3,000ft above Lutak Inlet around 5pm on 3/23. Numerous crowns from 3/16 widespread avalanche cycle on all aspects mostly between 3-4k.

A strong leprechaun crust from the 3/16-3/17 precip & warming event roughly 5-15cm thick candy coated all aspects and elevations above 3,500ft. About 10cm of cold smoke surface facets sat over this supportable crust with the best conditions on NW aspects.  Solar aspects did begin to warm enough to form a melt-freeze crust at the surface by the afternoon of 3/23 and produce corn snow by late afternoon before re-freezing.

Above 5,000ft on NW-aspects the leprechaun crust began to disappear with a dense upright surface on deep and consolidated slopes. W-aspects had punchy sun-affected snow with facets around rocks. Strong afternoon sunlight was producing small point releases and rock fall.  Lower elevations that remained warmer where the surface crust wasn't supportable with the daytime heating were suspect and areas we avoided.