Virginia Lakes

We went for an afternoon tour in the Red Lake area up to 10,500'.  Recent snow totals in this area were around 8 to 12 inches. New snow was fairly low-density in the below to near treeline areas we traveled through.

We observed cracking in isolated wind drifts but most locations held low-density snow over a firm crust or recently buried facets in more protected terrain. There is plenty of snow available for transport if winds were to increase.

By afternoon, no natural rollerballs were visible in south facing terrain. 

Recent natural avalanche activity observed was minimal: A few D1 dry-loose sluffs in steep N facing terrain above treeline and debris from one D1, likely wind slab (crown not visible) in a wind loaded feature above Little Virginia Lake.

Cracking on wind loaded features. A few natural D1 dry-loose sluffs were observed in steep N facing terrain.