Wa Pass

It was barely below freezing starting out from Silver Star gate. Once we passes Cutthroat Creek temps went well above freezing. While temps stayed warm overnight at mid and upper elevations, the snowpack still formed a refreeze crust which melted by mid morning. The last few days have produced numerous D1 - D2 wet loose avalanches especially on south aspects, with a couple D2 releases seen today. There are signs of older avalanche crowns in the terrain especially on steep unsupported slopes. One newer looking crown above Willow creek may be from the last two days. Water is gradually making it's way through the snowpack, a few inches in some areas and more than a foot in others. 

The upper snowpack is moist to wet just about everywhere. In areas with direct sun water can be seen in the snowpack 25cm down. In less sun affected areas visible water only extends about 5 cm down.  Some fully shaded areas feel almost dry. At the 3/9 interface we found a hard thin crust, but no results in column tests. Further down the 2/25 crust also did not act up in column tests, although both these crusts would pull off in moderate shear force. The 124cm deep Early Feb. crust failed in sudden planar fashion in a compression test and a deep tap test. The snow above this crust was facetted, but is now rounding. Day by day water is working down towards these interfaces.