Blind Canyon Creek

It was a warm day today - well above freezing at upper elevations. We measured an air temperature of 41 degrees F at 7500 ft at 1 pm. We found less snow from recent storms than in other zones. Any persistent slab problems were likely limited and now bonded. Wet loose avalanches were the primary problem today. 

The surface snow on south aspects got wet during the day, especially out of the wind below ridge top. We observed a couple of D1-D1.5 wet loose slides that ran yesterday in the recent snow on all aspects except northerlies. A south aspect at 7400 ft had only 5 inches of recent storm snow resting on a hard sun crust. Lower elevation southerlies were thin, and some were completely melted out. Lower elevation south aspects were becoming unsupportable in areas on our exit in the afternoon.  

North aspects with a little bit of east or west were moist at the surface and produced rollerballs. Steep due north looked a little dryer, but we did not travel on it. We dug a pit on a northeast aspect at 7500 ft that had no layers of concern. The height of snow was 170 cm (67"), and stability tests did not produce propagating results.