Canyon Creek - Cowap

If there are large to very large human-triggered avalanches in the area, then things like inconclusive snowpack observations and the lack of other signs of instability are moot points. While the spatial variability across West North at the present moment is huge, there isn't much doubt this drainage holds the greatest danger. There is lots of room for speculation why this is the case, including better developed facets above crust, less snow than the Baker Backcountry and Schriebers over the last week, or microclimate factors like colder temperatures and less (or more!) wind. 

Wet avalanche problems appear to be garden-variety with enough instability to keep them in the picture - especially in big and exposed alpine terrain - but not enough to severely impact travel. Low elevations did pick up enough snow in the last few weeks to make travel in thick forest more reasonable, but not enough to link turns and enjoy it.  Snow conditions on shaded slopes are excellent, consisting of soft, settled powder.

Southerly aspects have a supportable sun crust over 30cm of sun-affected, 1F snow. Hand shears found easy but rough shears at the interface between the topmost and layer and another sun crust below. Shaded slopes had roughly 30cm of 4F to 1F over a layer of 3mm rounding surface hoar, with three more layers of 1F to P over a thin crust down 70cm. 1mm mixed forms of facets and rounded grains found just above the crust. A thick crust matrix from the last AR in early Feb is down ~80cm and is comprised of mixed K crust and facet layers. ECTN at SH layer down 30 and CTH-SP just above first crust down 70cm