Snowpack
Widespread 2mm surface hoar in protected areas. A supportable melt freeze crust capped the snowpack until around 3000’, where it became unsupportable on solar aspects and dry powder/windslab on shaded aspects.
2900’ WNW Aspect, Taylor Pass
-50cm of right side up precipitation particles. There was a 3cm layer of loose melt freeze grains at the ground. No facets present. No propagating ECT results.
3700’ NW Aspect, Pastoral Glacier
-80 cm of right side up precipitation particles. A minor density change 30cm below the surface produced energetic ECTN results. No facets present.
Avalanche
We observed a natural D3 windslab on the NE face of Pastoral Pk. It ripped out three cross-loaded gullies near the summit and deposited debris past the toe of Pastoral glacier. Similar windslab avalanches were visible in the high elevations of Lyon Creek on cross-loaded aspects. All slides appeared to be days old.