Elk Creek from valley bottom to Scarp Ridge

Below treeline on north to east aspects, conditions appear reasonably safe, but poor structure persists.  In isolated places, a person could trigger a slab avalanche but overall seems unlikely.  We chose to descend a steep northeast slope with a relatively clean and safe runout just in case we were surprised. 

Sunny slopes near and below 12,000 feet, experienced enough sun and warm temperatures to pose little, if any, slab avalanche threat.

No signs of instability underfoot. Hard propagating results in ECT below treeline on northeast aspects.

ECTP - hard results in two separate locations below treeline on northeast aspects at 10,450 feet.  The slab is up to 1 finger hard, but generally 4 finger, above fist hard depth hoar at the 11/16 interface (see photo).  The structure is poor but feels quiet.  Boot penetration in this area passes through the slab into the weak layer near the ground.  The snow surface in protected, northerly terrain is faceted enough to produce minor sloughing in very steep terrain.  In this area, the 12/7 Surface Hoar Layer is standing proud but lacks a slab above to cause a problem.

At the head of the drainage on sunny aspects near and just below 12,000 feet, there is little threat of a triggered slab avalanche.  Thin, hard melt/freeze crusts formed over the weekend that were typically supportive to skis on steep slopes.

Northerly wind events this winter have beat up/stripped many northerly alpine terrain features.  Along Scarp Ridge in this area, the drifting patterns pointed to the south and left the northerly sides hard or stripped (see photo).