Quick report
Our Nordic patrol team headed out to check on the Edith Creek area and up to Glacier Vista. Temperatures began rather warm (4°C) under cloudy skies. We measured 12 to 14 inches of fresh snow from Thursday/Friday that was now fully saturated mush (from last night’s rain) sitting on top of the dry spell’s crust. Plenty of runnels were visible on the surface as well. Wet loose activity was omnipresent as roller balls or small wet loose slides were visible under pretty much all steep, rocky slopes. Any snow that had accumulated in the trees also fell and produced more roller balls likely overnight. However, this saturated new snow was not visibly reactive until the sun came out around 11:30. At that time, it became really easy to kick off very large roller balls. We observed a large natural D3 avalanche that was kicked by ice calving off the Nisqually Glacier. Very cool to witness, but glad no one was in the vicinity. Around 12:30-13:00, the some high clouds moved in, blocking the sun, and winds shifted to bring cooler air and rapidly froze a 1 cm thick crust. Skiing was better than expected although expectations were near rock bottom
Avalanche
Numerous D1 slides below steep, rocky slopes. One large D3 avalanche was kicked by ice calving off the Nisqually Glacier