Observation: North Ogden Divide

Route today was Lewis Peak above North Ogden Divide and then to North Fork Park. Low-elevation aspects facing west/south/east have mostly melted out with only small patches of snow. Low-elevation north aspects have < 1 meter of snow and are isothermal (wet snow to the ground).

I only traveled as high as 8,100' with snow depths on northerly aspects of 160 cms. The top 30-45 cms of snow was wet, with dry snow underneath, indicating northerly aspects above about 8,000' still haven't gone through a wet cycle.

Poor lighting today, but minimal wet avalanche activity from this past week was noted. Although we've had several days without a refreeze, the clear skies overnight have helped the snowpack freeze. But with cloud cover Thursday night, the snowpack is unlikely to refreeze overnight and into Friday.

Photos:

- Pits at 6,900' and 8,100' showing an isothermal snowpack at low elevations with some dry snow at mid elevations

- A natural cornice fall which triggered a wet avalanche on a northeast aspect at 7,600'

- Natural wet avalanches below Mt.Willard

- Chilly Peak slabs showing a disconnected snowpack - Derek DeBruin also pointed this out in an observation from March 13

- Looking northward along the Skyline toward Ben Lomond and Willard, showing the significant loss of snow at low elevations

Superficial, unsupportable refreeze overnight. The winds kept the snow surface cool, although unsupportable.